Shagai Nyamdorj is taking what he learned in MIU’s ComPro MSCS program, and giving back to his home country of Mongolia by teaching middle and high school students the skills they need to kickstart a future career in IT.
“For the last three years, we have built our Nest Academy. Now we have more than one hundred kids learning coding and UX design,” says Shagai. “Our mission is to coach 10K young talents to become world class software engineers. Once we have perfected the plan and the setup, we hope to expand to other countries as well.”
By 2022, Nest Academy’s partner company, Nest Solutions, will start matching these talented young developers from Mongolia with startup companies in the U.S. and other nations to create the team necessary for a startup to thrive and grow into a well-established success. First they will focus on startups in Mongolia, and then expand operations to include projects in the U.S., Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Shagai knows well from personal experience that good ideas alone are not enough to make a startup into a successful company:
“It’s vital to have a good team and good leadership–it’s very obvious that all the tech giants open their offices in big cities with good talent pools. And with most of the successful companies, there is a good team with more than 100 engineers with good leadership that can turn any simple idea into a successful venture,” Shagai points out.
Young Nest Academy students busy learning Javascript
When Shagai first applied for the ComPro program in 2011, he submitted an essay with his application that said, “My main goal for increasing my knowledge base is to make a difference in the lives of others.”
This is a goal he still holds to this day.
“I want to teach our young generation to improve their lives, pursue their dreams and make a difference in our country and the world,” says Shagai.
He has found his education at MIU to be the perfect bridge to achieving this goal.
The full time, paid Curricular Practical Training aspect of the ComPro program has been especially valuable for Shagai, because it allowed him to gain real-world experience with a U.S. company while continuing to take computer science classes via distance education.
After completing his on-campus studies, Shagai was hired for an internship at well-known financial services company Shazam, and later worked as a senior software engineer at Amazon before starting his own company.
Mongolian design students focusing on Accessibility Standards
How did he hear about the ComPro program?
“In 2010, I was fortunate that I had a chance to work with top talents in Mongolia, and one of my co-workers decided to apply to MIU. For me it was a great chance to challenge myself to pursue my MSCS in the United States as well. I had never seen such a good program in the U.S. I had researched similar programs, but realized MIU is far more valuable compared to other programs,” Shagai says.
In October 2011, he left his friends, family and career in Mongolia, and set off for America. He arrived on the campus of MIU, a few hours’ drive from Chicago, to find a very welcoming environment:
“The MIU campus and town of Fairfield, Iowa is such a pleasant and convenient place, and everyone at the school and in the community are so friendly,” he says.
Transcendental Meditation
Shagai quickly settled into his new routine at MIU, which included regular practice of the benefit-rich Transcendental Meditation® technique (TM). TM is the cornerstone of the Consciousness-based education at MIU, where all students practice TM as part of the curriculum.
It soon became clear to Shagai that TM was having a positive effect:
“TM improves my sleep quality and makes me calmer in stressful situations. I think it also helps us become more joyful and happy,” he says.
“Our mission is to coach 10K young talents to become world class software engineers.”
https://compro.miu.edu/wp-content/uploads/1_IMG_2895_Original-Edit-1-e1605817728278.jpg487450Dileep Krishnamoorthyhttps://compro.miu.edu/wp-content/uploads/compro-web-logo-442x112.pngDileep Krishnamoorthy2020-11-19 13:23:152021-02-01 23:36:45Promising young Mongolian programmers will soon have unique opportunities in America and elsewhere
“I love everything about Maharishi International University (formerly Maharishi University of Management). There is a positive energy here, and people are welcoming. I love the diversity. I love how the faculty care about each student. They’re concerned about everyone and they guide us through everything, and I love TM (the Transcendental Meditation technique).” — Hlina Beyene (from Ethiopia)
In 2018, many of Hlina Beyene’s friends studying computer science were planning for a master’s degree in a research field, but she decided to pursue a master’s degree in a university that would prepare her to work in the IT industry. She found Maharishi International University on Google.
“I did not think MIU would help me catch up to be competent in industry. I thought I would need to do that on my own. Having completed the on-campus courses, however, I felt excited! I felt prepared. I felt competent.”
Transcendental Meditation® technique helps students
Before coming to MIU, “I didn’t know exactly about TM, but I knew I wanted to meditate. I knew through meditation I would gain some energy, some peace. I was looking for that.
“When I found MIU, I didn’t know that they would take Transcendental Meditation very seriously, but I knew I had that opportunity. When I found out that they take it seriously, and we had a chance to meditate twice a day, every day–that was a great experience for me. It is beautiful.
“MIU courses are on the block system. So, we study one subject at a time, full-time. We really have to learn each subject in a month. Sometimes it’s challenging, because we may have to finish projects within three days and do assignments every day.
“We manage the block system by doing the Transcendental Meditation technique every morning, before lunch, and at the end of classes in the afternoon. This is really helpful because it relaxes my body, and it helps me to relieve stress and focus on my work. I feel my brain is getting more and more energy every time I do TM. It is like exercising my body every day.”
“Studying advanced computer science courses was great. After 8-9 months of academic courses, we took a special course called Career Strategies. This was a 3-week workshop where Career Center staff helped us create our professional resume, prepare for internship/job interviews, and for adapting well to the US culture.
“They gave us all the necessary information we would need. In particular, we learned that when being interviewed it isn’t just them looking for special skills from me—it is also me looking at them to see if I would be happy there. I was well prepared to excel in my interviews. They give us all the necessary information we need.
“I got the internship really quickly—within a week I was hired as an Application Developer 5 at Bank of America in North Carolina. They found me through their contact with our Computer Science Career Center. The recruiters actually came to the University and they matched me to their need.”
Personal goal
“I have a special goal—to make a difference in our world. I want to encourage more women to become software developers. In developing countries, women want to take on more responsibilities, but often do not see opportunities to get ahead.
“Education such as what MIU offers will better prepare women for success in leadership positions. Educating a woman in developing countries means uplifting the whole family.
“In Ethiopia there are not enough opportunities for women to develop their careers. I want women in all developing countries to believe in themselves, and if they can get the opportunity, I highly recommend and advise them to come to MIU—a place where they can progress in their life and career.”
Edwin Bwambale (2nd from the left in photo above) and his four brothers are members of the Bukonzo tribe in western Uganda–known for its well-educated people. He is the second born of five boys.
The five brothers are named (left to right above): Idine Membere, Edwin Bwambale, Godwin Tusime, Harrison Thembo, and Cleave Masereka. (Each son has a different surname, because in their culture, surnames are given based upon the order of birth within a family.)
In 2016 Edwin was looking for a low cost, high quality master’s degree program in software development: “The first time I saw the MIU program, I doubted it. I couldn’t believe something like that existed. But, a friend of mine joined the course. That’s when I confirmed that the program is real!”
So, he applied and enrolled in the Computer Professionals Master’s Degree Program (“ComPro”) at Maharishi International University (in Fairfield, Iowa USA) in August 2016. “I just love this course–it’s practical, it’s hands-on, which has helped me during my paid internship search.”
When Edwin raved about his MIU experiences, his parents were so impressed that they decided that all five of their sons should attend MIU!
Special Community
In the featured video at the top of our website homepage, Edwin remarks: “The university is in the small town called Fairfield, in Iowa. The people in the town are great–people smile everywhere. It makes you feel at home–though you are so many miles away.” :)
Strong Family Support
Five Ugandan brothers with their remarkable parents
Harrison, Cleave and Edwin with their families
Edwin comes from a wonderful family: “My parents were very loving and really inspired us to work hard and aim towards greater success. Even when they were not rich, they created an environment that made us cultivate bigger ambitions. They consistently talked to us and mentored us even after we were out of university. They set an example for us to love each other and our future families because they really loved each other selflessly and loved us too.”
Edwin continues, “In my family, and among my friends, no one has a single doubt of what MIU can help us accomplish. Every one of my four brothers, and other friends have looked forward to studying for their master’s degrees at Maharishi International University.”
“Making the decision to join MIU is the best self-rewarding decision I have ever made in my life. It provided a conducive environment to pursue my education as well as prepare me to be able to deliver world class performance in my career. What you can achieve with the MIU opportunity is only limited by your imagination. I can confidently say that it is one of the best professional programs I have ever seen or heard of. Long live MIU!”
Comments from four brothers: Cleave Masereka (MS in Computer Science graduate–working at Apple): “The idea of Maharishi International University never seemed real until my brother Edwin got the visa and joined in August 2016. This drastically changed my thinking, and I joined in October 2016. A friend, Benjamin Wogisha (my former work mate from Uganda), joined us in February 2017.
“Currently, Edwin is at Microsoft, Benjamin (a Ugandan friend) is at Facebook and I’m at Apple. (Three of the best tech companies on the planet–all of us as software engineers). This explains the unsung potential that MIU imparts in its students, and I can certainly assert that ComPro is not just a master’s program, but a life-changing integrated course. All my friends we studied with at MIU got good jobs and are all living happily. Any decision to come to MIU by anyone will forever be the best.”
Godwin Tusime (Currently completing IT bachelor’s degree in Uganda, so he can enroll in MIU Computer Professionals Program afterwards.): “I am passionate about programming because it’s fun, and helps one to be a good thinker, decision maker and innovator. For a long time now I have admired MIU and the Computer Professionals program for it has changed my brothers’ lives (Cleave and Edwin). (Harrison is doing the Accounting MBA.) I am working hard every day to develop my programming skills, and hope to join MIU soon. After that, my life will, no doubt, never ever be the same again.”
Harrison Thembo (Accounting MBA internship student–working as accountant at Silicon Valley Financial Group): “I always had a dream to become the best version of myself and compete at the highest level possible. I knew that in order to achieve that I need the best education. I’m very glad for the platform Maharishi International University gave me to achieve my dream for an MBA in Accounting.
“I am now working with one of the best accounting firms in Silicon Valley as a staff accountant. I never imagined that choosing MIU would be this fruitful and I am forever grateful for the Consciousness-Based education that this school provides. For every dreamer out there, this is the place to go.”
IdineMembere (Planning to enroll in Accounting MBA in August 2020): “I want to do my MBA from MIU because I want to attend my masters from some of the best brains in the world and MIU provides this platform and opportunity.
“Secondly, the professional training and experience I would get from US companies would be immensely important for my career and would prepare me to an “international standard.”
“Thirdly, the education loan program by MIU makes what would be a difficult task of attaining American education to people from developing countries like us become more affordable and achievable.
“Thank you MIU for this program. My three brothers, Edwin, Cleave and Harrison are already through this program. I can’t wait to join MIU and enhance my knowledge and contribute to the existing bank of knowledge. By the way, I am already qualified by the Association of Chartered Certified Accounts (ACCA) in the UK and also want to be a Certified Accountant in the U.S.”
Comments from Ugandan friend at MIU:
Benjamin Wogisha (friend of the brothers) (MS in Computer Science graduate–Software Engineer working at Facebook): “I always wanted to go for further studies, but I had failed to find a suitable university. Compared to other universities, the process of applying to MIU was quick, and they were very responsive and helpful during the process. MIU offers the block system which I really liked, because it would allow me to focus fully on one course each month.
“The courses offered by Maharishi International University were in line with what I always wanted to do, e.g., enterprise architecture. I saw it as an opportunity to get to learn from first principles about enterprise software which are pretty much everywhere.
“Studying at MIU we had the chance to work on large scale systems in the USA during internships, which was something that I always looked toward. I knew working in the USA would unlock so many opportunities beyond which I could ever imagine, because America has the tech giants.”
Benjamin adds, “While studying at the University I always made sure to attend the group Transcendental Meditation sessions we had. There is something about doing it together in a group that is really good and unique. This kicked off my day to a great start feeling relaxed and more focused ready to tackle anything that came my way.
“The classes helped me develop a deeper understanding of TM and how I could gain even more from practicing it regularly, answering and clearing any doubts that I was practicing TM the right way. Currently even with my workload, getting to practice TM for only 20 minutes a day has helped me achieve more, because of the focus and calmness I feel after my meditation.”
Advice from Benjamin for other software developers: “For anyone wanting to boost their careers, MIU is definitely the right choice. The courses are so well thought out and organized. I learned a lot from each course that I took on campus. Courses helped me bridge the gap between theory and practice. With the hands-on approach, so many concepts become clear, giving me a very strong foundation that I build on each day. The lecturers are always there to support the students and MIU has so many alumni that can support you as well. There is no doubt that MIU sets one up for success.”
“My brother (Denis Kisina) joined the University recently as well. After only one month he tells me that he feels more confident as a software developer. I can only imagine how he will be at the end of the program. Maharishi International University has provided the ideal environment he needed to concentrate and study.”
We thank all our Ugandan students for making the 13,000 km journey to join our MIU family in the U.S. It is a joy having you in our growing student body.
Ling Sun (“Susie”) has a wonderful story to tell. She was born on a small farm in rural China. Today, she is a Google software engineer in New York City. How did she do it?
Early life in China
Girls in Ling’s community in Hunan Province, central China, never go to high school, and are expected to help farm and then have their own families. In fact, she had to leave school at age 13 to work in the family’s fields to help with family financial needs.
But farm work was hard and made Ling unhappy, so she kept asking her father, and he finally agreed to let her return to school. Among her 11 village friends, Ling Sun was the only one to finish high school.
But this education didn’t allow her to enter college, so she became a factory worker in Shenzhen. The work routine was boring, so she quit the factory after a few months and became a student in a computer training program, hoping this would give her the skills for a more professional life.
To pay for the training to become an entry-level software engineer, she worked three part-time jobs and lived on three credit cards.
Ling Sun with family members in rural Hunan Province village.
In September 2011, Ling got her first software engineering job developing an online payroll system in Shenzhen. This was great for a while, but she still wanted to feel more accomplished in a big city where others had more advanced knowledge and credentials.
In a recent interview, Ling told the South China Morning Post that her basic motivation has always been to “Just keep learning new things step-by-step, day-by-day.” So, while continuing the job, she studied English and enrolled in a distance education degree program with Shenzhen University. Being athletic with lots of energy, she also began playing ultimate frisbee as a way to get exercise and learn English from others with more worldly international experience.
A great opportunity in America
The exposure to people with international backgrounds stimulated Ling with the desire to see more of the world. While viewing a Chinese job-hunting website in 2016, she noticed an ad for a U.S. computer science master’s degree program that looked perfect to her: low initial cost, with the ability to get a paid professional internship as part of an accredited academic degree program. During the internship in a U.S. company studies would continue via distance education.
Ling applied and was accepted into our Computer Professionals Master’s Program at Maharishi University of Management, located about 230 miles southwest of Chicago. After nine months studying on campus, including the valuable Career Strategies Workshop and numerous interviews, Sun was offered a position as a Software Engineer with a Google vendor, EPAM Systems.
Here’s Ling Sun after arriving at MUM in October 2017.
Paid professional internship at Google
As a contract software engineer at Google’s Manhattan headquarters, Ling feels fortunate to have colleagues from top American universities—some with Ph.D. degrees. “But none of them treat me like I don’t deserve all of this,”she said in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post. “That is the thing I like about America: they value what you are able to do more than where you come from.”
MUM experience
Regarding the time spent at MUM, she appreciates the special academic environment, the diversity of the student and faculty population, and the many friends made here. She adds, “I liked every moment spent (at MUM) in Fairfield.”
Her adviser, Professor Mei Li, says,”Susie was always very positive and enthusiastic about all her activities. She was a good student, a friend to everyone, and exceptionally talented in many areas, including sports.”
Ling Sun with ultimate frisbee friend.
Future plans
After completing her master’s degree in December 2019, Ling hopes her parents will come to visit America and see her graduate on our campus. This would be the first time for her mother to leave their hometown in China!
Ling Sun’s next professional goal is to become an in-house Google software engineer. She says that, “It won’t be easy, but your life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
To read more about Ling Sun’s remarkable life, please read this article in the South China Morning Post.
https://compro.miu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Sun-Ling-at-Google-from-Sun-Ling.png8001200cre8orhttps://compro.miu.edu/wp-content/uploads/compro-web-logo-442x112.pngcre8or2019-08-06 21:09:152019-12-29 21:45:52Google Software Engineer Grew Up on a Rural China Farm
The MS in Computer Science-Data Science specialization at Maharishi University of Management recently received the unique distinction of being named the best master’s program of its kind in Iowa.
In its first annual review of all 290 accredited schools in the U.S. offering similar grad degrees, DataScienceGraduatePrograms.com found MUM to be among the very best, giving us the #1 spot for Iowa on its list of Top Data Science Graduate Programs for 2018.
Selection Criteria To come up with these recommendations, reviewers sifted through a list of 290 data science master’s and graduate certificate programs by hand.
As much as possible, they looked for programs that included multiple required courses covering core subjects such as:
Inferential and Descriptive Statistics Linear and Logistic Regression Time Series and Forecasting Probability Theory Stochastic Analysis Statistical Modeling Multidisciplinary Approaches
A multi-disciplinary program including courses and instructors from computer science and applied mathematics or statistics departments ranked more highly than single department programs.
Because data science blends together essential elements from at least those fields (and often from others, including biostatistics, which draws on heath and medical education) they judged that programs built by professors from both houses were more likely to cover all the bases.
Database and Data Theory Education
The secret sauce that makes data science, data science, is the use of automated data processing elements in statistical analysis. So they searched for programs that included an education in data structures and database theory.
Hands-on work with relational and non-relational data stores were a big plus, in their view, to build on that theoretical education. Dedicated data modeling courses and capstone projects that required genuine database creation or manipulation were also excellent signs of a useful education.
Coding Courses With Teeth
The other aspect of data processing is coding. Data scientists apply their analytical training to information stored in data structures through expressions and algorithms crafted in programming languages heavily used in the profession, like R, Python and Java.
They selected programs that included genuine, hands-on programming work. Although most data science programs require some coding experience as a condition of entry, they looked for those gems that also continued the education in the more specialized aspects of languages and coding specific to data science.
This also extended to coverage of the latest techniques used in data analysis. Data mining, machine learning, and advanced visualization were important courses they looked for.
Instructors With The Right Stuff
Data science is a new field and it’s one that is largely being defined in practice rather than theory. That means that the big players are active in government, industry, and academia alike. On-the-ground experience working with the systems that are collecting, processing, and analyzing big data is invaluable when it comes to training others how to do the work.
So reviewers looked for programs that included faculty with current or recent experience in real-world projects outside academia, where the practical considerations of employers and users come into play. Adjunct professors with day jobs working with big data were a big plus.
Other Factors
Since data science is so new, they had to look at some proxy elements to judge programs. They always like to consider reputation in the industry, and in many cases they had to look at the parent department or college generally instead of the individual program. However, they did try to account for graduate placement as an indicator of reputation and preparation.
If the school had a dedicated data lab where professors and students partnered with outside businesses and agencies, they also counted that highly.
To a much lesser extent, website and the availability of information played a factor. Data science draws people who like data and have an interest in technology. It’s 2018, and if an academic department dealing in a computational science puts together a website that looks like a 12-year-old built it in 2001, or can’t provide easy online access to course descriptions and offerings, it’s time to run the other way.
Maharishi University of Management Although the Maharishi program is focused first on a traditional computer science education, with all the emphasis on core networking and programming skills that entails, it’s also a unique world center for the integration of traditional self-development with this most modern area of technical study. The inclusion of proven meditation techniques here only reinforces how serious this program is about preparing students for real-world work in data science. The optional 8-month internship for full credit provides genuine on-the-job experience, building your resume and putting you into direct contact with real data scientists doing real work, all before you graduate.
The base program specializes in training on software systems and development and the data science option piggybacks on this strength with concrete training in hot data analysis technologies like R, Hadoop, Spark, Flume, and HBase. Overviews of other NoSQL approaches and cloud-based tools like AWS and Cloudera are also taught. Finally, you’ll work with IBM’s SPSS modeler application, diving into text analytics and data mining to learn predictive modeling skills.
https://compro.miu.edu/wp-content/uploads/DataScienceGraduatePrograms.com-names-MUM-Best-in-Iowa-2018-1.png367300cre8orhttps://compro.miu.edu/wp-content/uploads/compro-web-logo-442x112.pngcre8or2018-05-26 17:36:362019-07-24 16:27:42Data Science MS specialization named the top master’s program of its kind in Iowa, 2018
Please click on the images shown below to experience the unique excitement and attraction that draws more than 300 students per year from every continent and every cultural background to our Computer Science MS program.
We are especially proud of the website videos, which give an inviting taste of student life at MUM, and will inspire you to apply to our “ComProSM” degree program!
See for yourself why campus visitors, students, and graduates consider MUM their home-away-from-home!
Some pages on our new website:
Unique Payment Plan for Internationals
Low Entry Fee with Paid Internships for Internationals
Our Students Come from Around the World
You Will Experience Personal & Career Growth
Students Have Held Internships in Fortune 500 Companies
Learn Advanced Computer Science from Top Faculty
New Data Science Specialization: Big Data Analytics & Machine Learning
U.S. EMBASSY INTERVIEW WAITING TIMES AND MSCS APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMES
We have found that many countries have very delayed interview dates. Please see Visa Appointment Wait Times (state.gov) to find out the length of time to get an interview date for your country/city.
If the interview waiting time is more than 2 months, we encourage you to apply and complete your application immediately, even if you are planning to apply for a future entry. This way you can complete the application process, get your I-20, and then get an interview date. You must have an I-20 to get the interview date. If the date is earlier than you plan to come to the U.S., you can always postpone your arrival date once you get the visa. We would just issue you a new I-20 for the entry date for which you plan to come.
For questions regarding this information, please contact our admissions office at csadmissions@miu.edu.
Shagai Nyamdorj is taking what he learned in MIU’s ComPro MSCS program, and giving back to his home country of Mongolia by teaching middle and high school students the skills they need to kickstart a future career in IT.
Ling Sun with family members in rural Hunan Province village.
Here’s Ling Sun after arriving at MUM in October 2017.
Ling Sun with ultimate frisbee friend.
