Today, Kazakhstani students have many opportunities. In addition to studying at university, they can also gain experience in international companies around the world. A bright example is Dinmukhamed Tursynbai, a student of the Kazakh-British Technical University, who is currently interning at Huawei's office in China. A correspondent from DKnews.kz spoke with the future IT specialist and asked him how he got the opportunity to intern at such a major company.
"I loved solving problems"
I am 22 years old. My friends and colleagues call me Dimash or Dimi. Since my school days, I have been close to problem-solving and loved doing it. So, as a student, I participated in various olympiads. After finishing school, I chose the field of IT and studied at universities in Barcelona and Hong Kong. However, during the pandemic, studying abroad became more challenging. So, I transferred to the Kazakh-British Technical University in Almaty. Here, I’m a third-year student in the Faculty of Computer Technology and Software. Additionally, I am currently interning at Huawei's headquarters in Xi'an, China.
"The olympiad allowed me to gain experience working at Huawei"
I participated in various contests and olympiads at the university. I was once a prize-winner of the Zhautykov Student Olympiad, and now I create problems for this contest and am part of the jury. I also create problems for an olympiad held within KBTU.
I have been participating in the ICPC World Finals since last year. This is an international programming olympiad that has been held since 1970, where students from all over the world compete. Each year, 70,000 students from six continents and 161 countries participate in the olympiad, solving various algorithmic problems. The contest includes 13 tasks related to calculation, logic, and algorithms. Our team qualified last year and this year as well. Last year, we ranked 36th out of 140 teams. This year, we took 51st place. However, this year, I was the first to solve a problem in one of the competitions. For this, we were awarded a special statuette. Thus, we became the first team in the world to solve this particular problem.
In the semifinals, I noticed representatives from Huawei, one of the sponsors of the ICPC World Finals. Representatives from major companies support the contest and share information about their opportunities there. They also keep an eye on educated, smart students, inviting those with passion and enthusiasm to intern or work in their companies. Hearing about the opportunity to become an experienced IT specialist in the future, I also became interested. So, I got to know the Huawei representatives better during the semifinals and finals. They noticed me, too. As a result, I was sent for an internship at the company’s international office.
"I came to the heart of Huawei"
A large company like Huawei has offices in different countries - in Europe, Russia, Belarus, and many other places. Before this, I had been to Russia and Belarus. So I wanted to intern at the office in China, and I chose this country. I came to the office in China - to the heart of Huawei.
My internship at Huawei's office in China has several advantages. First, university classes on research methods have started. Reading the theory online, I was able to apply it practically in China. Second, Huawei is one of the largest international companies in the world. Strong, qualified specialists work here, and I am learning a lot from them. Third, I had the opportunity to earn while being a student. Huawei covered my travel and hotel expenses. And the employees at the China office helped me with getting to know the country, arranging a bank card, SIM card, and other documents. They also helped me find a rental apartment, and soon I will be paid for my internship here. Fourth, I had the opportunity to get to know the culture of the country. The Huawei office is located in Xi'an, one of China’s largest inland cities. Not many tourists visit this city. Most locals do not speak English; they all speak in their own language. Of course, this is challenging on one hand, but on the other, it allows me to learn the language of this country and get to know its culture, traditions, and people.
According to the plan, I will stay here until winter and return to Kazakhstan for exams. They told me that if my work impresses Huawei representatives, and if I like the company, I may have the opportunity to intern or even work at an office in another city or country. I am glad to work in a large office where more than 10,000 people are currently employed. I haven't yet decided which field I will work in in the future or whether I will pursue a master’s degree. Clearly, Huawei will greatly help me in finding my path.
To other students and young people, I advise participating in various olympiads and contests according to their interests. This is because such competitions are supported by various international companies like Huawei. Participating in them will not only help you earn awards but also give you the opportunity to start a career as a strong IT specialist.
