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March 05, 2024

Paurav Param was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, to Indian parents from the city of Bangalore in southern India. He began his studies at UVic in 2021 online, before coming in person to Canada and Victoria in September 2022. He is currently a third-year student in the Computer Science honours program, pursuing the software systems option.

“My first idea was to study in India but it was during the pandemic when things had gotten really challenging and I started looking around at other options,” he recalls. “My brother had applied to UVic previously and we knew about its good reputation, so I said, ok, I’m going to go for it, and I’m happy that I did.”

At UVic, he chose to study computer science for both career and personal growth reasons. “It’s a passion for me because I like to solve problems,” he says. “With computer science, you get this satisfaction from problem-solving as well as setting yourself up for a well-paying and rewarding job in the future.”

Within UVic’s Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Param has found a community and learning culture that has been supportive and innovative from day one. “Initially when I came here in person I was really surprised at the way teaching is done, because it was a new way from what I had been used to,” he explains. “I really hold it in high regard the way that professors teach here, especially in the computer science department, because you are encouraged to truly learn throughout the semester and the courses are structured in a practical way, they are assignment and teamwork-based, and that really helps you understand and to enjoy the content. You learn by doing, and that’s a really good philosophy for computer science.”

In Victoria, Param feels he has found a home away from home where is can relax and enjoy the natural environment around campus and throughout the city.

“The nature here is beautiful and really enticing, and the sky is clear at night so that you can see the stars. There are parks and beaches very close to campus that are nice to go to. It’s really wonderful and it’s a totally different environment than from where I came from.”

Currently on his second co-op term with UVic’s Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), he is contributing his skills and talents to helping the organization with software development.

“One of the biggest reasons I came to UVic is that the university is well known for its co-op programs,” he says. “I am learning a lot and building experience for my resume that will help me when I graduate. It’s really great!”

In the future, he is considering graduate studies in computer science and is open to career opportunities both in Canada and internationally.