From the bridging programme to a job in research

The fact that his online research led him to the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences was an important step in his life. He completed the Bridging Programme under the guidance of Petra Plieger, which finally enabled him to realise what had previously only been a plan: to study in Austria at a time when everything was still uncertain due to COVID. The first focus was to improve his German language skills and thus obtain the entry requirements for further studies.

He then chose the Bachelor's degree programme in Software Engineering and Connected Systems because Artem wanted to understand software holistically - not just individual sub-areas, but the entire process. His private "tinkering" - creating, experimenting and trying out new ideas - was given a professional framework during his studies. He emphasises:

Although Artem already had a good school-leaving qualification from Russia and had acquired IT skills himself, his first time in Austria was a time of adjustment for him. There were a number of challenges, not only of an academic and emotional nature, but also initially a language barrier. The opportunity to switch to English if necessary made everything much easier for him and he also ended up writing his thesis in English with the support of lecturer Patrizia Sailer.

The practical project RePro3D, in which the team developed a prototype, was particularly memorable from his time at university. "It was challenging, but that's what made it feel so "real", like a real software development project where you take responsibility as a team and build something really useful." Some of the friendships from that time still exist today - as do the exchanges with individual lecturers.

Today, he works at Forschung Burgenland, where he deals with IT-related topics in various research projects. His degree helps him in his daily work, as he can think in a structured way, work methodically and rely on his ability to familiarise himself with complex topics. "Curiosity and perseverance have always been important parts of my personality. During my studies, I learnt to use these qualities consciously."

Today, Artem looks back with gratitude - and forward with confidence. "Studying is sometimes very demanding. But it also gives you the tools to grow with challenges." He describes his personal recipe for success as follows: "In my private life, curiosity and perseverance have helped me the most: I like to tinker, try things out and solve problems step by step. In IT in particular, it's helpful to keep at it even when something doesn't work straight away and to systematically work out solutions. My habit of self-learning also helped me a lot: I was able to deepen content on my own when needed and pick up specific knowledge."

He advises students to be courageous and not be afraid to ask questions. "I was often unsure at the beginning. But honestly, the lecturers don't bite. Asking questions helps enormously."