Kseniia Vasylevska awarded 2025 Trimble Karahipi Hangarau/Technology Scholarship: Making a difference back home
“I have had to juggle between part-time work and full-time computer science studies, and it has not been easy. The financial support is a massive relief,” shares Kseniia.
The main drawback for Kseniia, in working and studying, is that it makes it hard to gain hands-on experience outside of her university coursework.
On a positive note, Kseniia feels that the Trimble scholarship and summer internship (also at Trimble) are a golden opportunity and is truly excited to gain practical skills in her field before she graduates.
Upon reflection, Kseniia says that the scholarship has boosted her self-confidence and reinforces that hard work truly pays off.
“This scholarship is transforming how I view myself and what I believe is possible,” she says.
However, Kseniia is no stranger to hard work. Her family moved from Ukraine to Christchurch when she was 12 years old. It was tougher than she thought.
“You think you can speak a language pretty well until you arrive in a country that speaks it as their first language,” she shares.
Fortunately, she adjusted to her new life and discovered a passion for maths and statistics and eventually computer science, with coding games as a fun way to learn.
“It wasn't long before I started to notice machine learning everywhere—from Netflix recommendations to voice assistants. I realised that this field beautifully combined my love for statistics and computer science, making it the perfect path for me,” says Kseniia.
This passion for Machine Learning (ML) was ignited after seeing an article about IBM's Deep Blue computer beating the world's best chess player, Garry Kasparov, in 1997. The idea that it is possible to build a machine learning system that could mimic human intelligence so closely, especially in a complex game like chess, was fascinating for her.
“It's like teaching a computer to understand and predict human behaviour—a concept that's both exciting and alarming,” she says.
Kseniia talks about how this is a pivotal moment in her academic journey. She hopes her internship will be a great environment for her to be challenged, contribute, and continue to develop her skills in ML, whilst being supported by a team of like-minded mentors.
Geospatial ML has the potential to revolutionise how we approach global challenges, from urban planning to disaster response.
“I'm inspired by initiatives like the UN's GIS projects, which use geospatial technology for humanitarian projects,” Kseniia shares.
Her dream is to use this knowledge and technology in a way that can aid Ukraine's recovery.
“This could involve using satellite imagery to assess the damage, optimise reconstruction efforts, or monitor environmental recovery,” she says.
Ultimately, she’s combining her passion for tech with a desire to make a real difference in the world. If that sounds like you too, contact our Talent Acquisition Manager, Kipling Brady.
