STRI
Can you start by introducing yourself and explaining your current role?
I am Joshua Afzal and I work as an operations manager within the research department of STRI. I was born and raised in Pakistan but have lived in Germany for most of my life. There I completed my PhD and Post Doc in Crop Sciences. I have worked in various areas like research, teaching, consultancy and Agribusiness, and I enjoy working with students and scholars.
Why do you choose to work with the University of Bradford and how have you found working with us?
STRI had an existing relationship with the university of Bradford which I continued in the hope to strengthen it further. As we are based in Bradford, the university of Bradford was the first choice for collaboration.
What benefit/value do our graduates bring to the workplace/to your organisation?
Graduates come with questions and ideas which lead to innovation and improvements. Furthermore, they provide us with reliable support in our work. Our work with graduates helps expand our network and leaves the door open for future professional support.
What do you want to see on a job application?
The application should be properly completed, and it should reflect professional interests and direction.
Students should stay connected with businesses along with their education. This will help them use their knowledge in meeting the demands of businesses.
Tell us how our graduates can progress in your organisation? / What type of job opportunities do you have?
We are an expanding business; therefore, we often offer jobs. Once graduates work with us they have a good understanding of the organisation which helps them to choose the right position. In research development, every year we look for summer support staff and often offer trial officers.
Why should a young individual/graduate come and work for you?
Induction: We take time to give them a chance to understand the real-life working environment with a dedicated supervisor.
Mentoring: We invite them to discuss their career goals, share ideas and help give them in setting direction.
Training: Students develop their projects with us and learn about other projects in progress. This gives them complete training along with experience.
What advice would you give to our/ current students/graduates looking for jobs?
Students should stay connected with businesses along with their education. This will help them use their knowledge in meeting the demands of businesses. They should engage in different activities to diversify their skills and talents.