My Cranfield experience so far

My name is Elvis Mwesigwa and I am a Ugandan Chevening Scholar pursuing an MSc in Water and Sanitation for Development at Cranfield. I am a Civil Engineer with four years of experience in Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Engineering Project Management as a consultant. My journey to Cranfield started with my search for tailored water and sanitation solutions for the developing world. The Water and Sanitation for Development MSc at Cranfield was designed to improve the delivery of water supply and sanitation services internationally, with a focus on low and middle-income countries like Uganda. Modules such as resilience, shocks and emergencies equip you with vast knowledge and skills to sustainably protect our finite water resources amidst the challenges climate change imposes. This aligned with my future goal as a humanitarian water and sanitation expert led me to Cranfield University.

I have been at Cranfield for two months and there has not been a single dull moment here. It started off with engagements from the Cranfield Student Association which was very welcoming, with several events and quiz nights held virtually over the ‘Hello Cranfield’ page. These engagements helped most of us keep active and eased the weight of mandatory quarantine borne by most international students. Upon the completion of my ten-day mandatory quarantine, the University provided a prestigious London cab that chauffeured me from London to Cranfield, giving me a taste of British culture at its finest. I am glad to have acquired on-campus accommodation at Lanchester Hall, which eases my access to University facilities such as the library and the sports centre any time of the day.

One of the major reasons I chose to pursue an MSc is to open up greater career opportunities, as well as to improve my understanding of the water and sanitation sector. Cranfield University has helped me get ready for the job market with help of the Careers Development Service which provides access to cutting-edge resume reviewing software such as V-Mock and LinkedIn profile updates as well as providing open access to potential employers through webinars and updates on Simplicity. These reflect how wholesome the Cranfield team are, and their work to meet both the skills of the students as well as getting them ready and employable to the job market.

As an international student, Cranfield has surely been a warm homely place for me, regardless of the cold weather. I have been able to meet and make several friends and build bonds that will last for eternity. I have taken up volunteering roles as Vice President and Head of Projects for the Silsoe Aid for Appropriate Development (SAFAD). SAFAD is a Cranfield student charity organisation linking University students to invaluable work experience in middle to low-income countries, as well as aiding non-government organisations to achieve their development objectives. All these, and more, are some of the perks of being a Cranfield student. I have been here for short while so far, but my journey of a thousand steps in the right direction has just started.