I am grateful to UNIC for the jumpstart in my career. I have fond memories of my undergraduate studies, and of the very cosy, friendly atmosphere on campus. From my first days, I never felt like just a number. Our professors were always accessible and willing to give detailed feedback.

I must add that the staff is highly qualified as well – even freshman courses are taught by professors holding qualifications from the best universities around the world. UNIC is also well-equipped, boasting new buildings with airy classrooms, amphitheatres, as well as a vast library. These were really the best amenities I’ve ever encountered.

The support exceeded all my expectations. I received mentoring from faculty members with respect to graduate school admissions. So many people went above and beyond and were true mentors, helping out at every stage. I would not even have dared to apply to a top school like Carnegie Mellon if it was not for the encouragement from my professors!

After graduating from UNIC, I continued my education in the USA. I had to say goodbye to Cyprus, but I always feel thankful for my alma mater. As it turned out, I was well prepared for my graduate studies. UNIC follows an American model of education, with the majority of time spent on individual preparation. That’s how I learnt how to deal with priorities and schedule work.

Moreover, the University’s system of electives permitted me to take additional coursework in Computer Science as part of my degree. It was so valuable being able to tailor my studies to my interests. I feel that I was able to get a solid foundation in Business and Computer Science from my undergraduate studies. At Carnegie Mellon University, I was exempted from a number of subjects, including Java and Databases, with knowledge obtained through my UNIC coursework.

Having worked at Oracle America Inc. for over five years, I contributed to the development of Oracle Communications’ Elastic Charging Engine, a product that has been praised for its elastic scalability, rapid deployment and engineered efficiency.

Last year, I decided to join Medallia as a Senior Software Engineer. From my new position, I am involved in developing a range of software products that support the customer experience. As we say at Medallia, this can only be achieved by systematically engaging everyone, which is something that directly ties to my student experience at UNIC.

Diana Yuryeva
Senior Software Engineer, Medallia Inc.
Business Administration, Class of 2009