Coming to Cranfield University to study a Water MSc and how I am finding it

My name is Walter Pillajo, and I am a disciplined and passionate person who loves challenges and enjoys spending time with my family and pets. I also enjoy playing guitar and sports, like basketball and football. I am from Ecuador, South America. To be more specific, I live in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and it is a city well known for its beautiful colonial architecture, wonderful mountains, landscapes, traditional food and because it is in the middle of the world.

I chose to study at Cranfield University because it is a unique university in the world that has a super specific master’s course; Water and Wastewater Engineering. I loved the fact that Cranfield has strong links with the industry, and I have been able to verify this during this first month of classes. Another factor was the fast responses that I received from the university during my application because it demonstrated the real commitment that Cranfield has with its students and prospective candidates.

After my first month here, I know that I had made the correct decision, this master’s course is the one that I have been looking for so long. The professors are very friendly and supportive, and I have interacted with my classmates. I have participated in some social sports events like basketball and handball. I have also got a part-time job as a student ambassador, and I am looking forward to meeting new people and expanding my network. Furthermore, I have visited London, hung out with some friends in Cranfield village and visited Cranfield sewage treatment plant.

A highlight for me is the fact that I have been able to find people from around the world with different backgrounds. As well, the course has showed me that it is well focused in Water and Wastewater treatment which is what I wanted to study. The lecture rooms are comfortable and are well equipped and campus is designed for studying properly.

I have several plans for my future. Within my short-term goals, I hope to find a job here to acquire more experience, apply the acquired knowledge, increase my professional networks, and accumulate capital for my next career goals. When I return to my country, I plan to work in a government institution to lead national projects that aim to provide safe water and treat wastewater in rural areas. I plan to form international panels to find funding to execute these projects in my country. I also plan to arrange workshops and training in universities to encourage more students to pursue this degree and help municipalities to solve some operational problems in their current drinking and wastewater treatment works.

In the long term, I plan to start my own company to offer more cost-effective systems to encourage more municipalities and industries to treat their sewage before discharging it into water bodies. My main objective is to protect water bodies resources and supply so that future generations have the same or better access to safe water and can enjoy the beauty of all ecosystems involved with waterbodies.