“Wrexham feels like a home away from home, and now I want to help students succeed at university”

“Wrexham feels like a home away from home, and now I want to help students succeed at university,” a graduate from Wrexham University has said.

Siri Potineni, an international graduate from India, has taken on a role of student administrator at the university to help give back to the organisation that helped to change her life.

Fuelled by the desire to create a better future for herself and her loved ones, she left her daughter and family in India to study for her MBA at Wrexham University in North-East Wales.

Siri is a part of Universities UK International’s #WeAreInternational: Transforming Lives campaign, dedicated to highlighting the important contribution international students are making to the UK and their communities during their studies here.

International students bring a £41 billion annual contribution to the UK, meaning on average, each of the 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK is £58 million better off – equivalent to approximately £560 per citizen. In Wales alone, international students have contributed £1.43 billion to the economy.

Siri is the founder of a successful IT business in her home country. But when she had her daughter, she was forced to take a career break.

After five years away from her career, the IT industry had evolved so much that she needed to retrain.

“I had nobody to support me back home in India as I no longer have my parents,” explained Siri.

“Life became habitual. At first, I was happy just to be at home and look after my little girl, but eventually I lost myself.”

She viewed coming to the UK as a fresh start and a chance to transform the lives of her family.

She chose to study in the UK because “in India there is an age limit to doing certain things, it’s believed that you should have finished studying by the time you’re twenty-five or twenty-six.

“In the UK, it seems you can do anything, at any age and you will be welcomed with open arms as long as you have the willingness to learn.”

Siri’s determination to succeed was only further exemplified by the part-time jobs she took on to support herself financially during her studies. She worked as a cleaner and milked cows on a farm throughout her studies to fund her accommodation and living expenses.

Reflecting on leaving her husband and daughter, Siri said: “The thought of leaving behind my beloved family members was difficult enough, but it was especially tough to part with my child, knowing that I would be so far away.”

Siri’s husband and daughter have now joined her in Wrexham, but restrictions being imposed by the UK Government in 2024 will prevent overseas students from bringing family with them to live in the UK while they study, except under specific circumstances.

Now, having completed her MBA, Siri is thriving. Wrexham University have offered her a job as a student administrator after being impressed by her dedication and commitment.

In the role Siri uses her own experiences of arriving in the UK to help new students settle into university life.

Speaking about why she took on a role at the university, she said, “I wanted to help others in aspects of university where I struggled. Moving away from home is so hard. You might smile on the outside, but I cried on the inside, and I never want a fellow student to have to go through that.”

Siri said, “I was so scared when I travelled to the UK, I am always scared when I travel, but even more so alone. However, everyone is so kind and friendly here, if you don’t know something there is always someone there who wants to help.”

“Now, Wrexham feels like a home away from home with its peaceful atmosphere and the natural beauty that surrounds it.

“This charming town offers a sense of comfort, making it a perfect place to relax and unwind with its mountains, waterfalls, and forests nearby.”