Technology Consulting
IN THE Global Community
Summer 2024
STUDENT STORIES
Kebing Bi, Mechanical Engineering, Masters
Kebing worked with Servicio Nacional de Adiestramiento en Trabajo Industrial (SENATI), a technical and vocational training institution in Peru, to identify factors contributing to student attrition.
My experience as a technology consultant at SENATI in Lima, Peru, significantly deepened my understanding of how data-driven decision-making can transform large organizations and highlighted the crucial role organizational culture plays in effective communication and collaboration.
Despite SENATI’s size, many of their student retention initiatives were still driven by intuition. By developing a machine learning algorithm to predict student dropout risk, I introduced a more evidence-based approach. This shift not only optimized resource allocation but also created a clearer path toward the organization’s long-term goals. A key insight I gained was how deeply organizational culture influences communication and teamwork. While professionalism is important, building personal connections with clients fosters trust and leads to more successful outcomes. Understanding and leveraging these cultural nuances is subtle but essential for achieving success in daily practice.
Savannah Xu, IS '26
Savannah worked with the Palau Ministry of Education to integrate and migrate new technologies that expedited administrative functions.
This internship with the Ministry of Education in Palau has profoundly influenced my perspective on the role of technology in addressing real-world challenges. Growing up in the U.S., I have often taken technological resources for granted. Working here, I have witnessed firsthand how many schools only recently gained access Wi-Fi. This experience has solidified my belief that technology, no matter how small or simple, is a powerful vehicle for change.
Seeing the impact of basic technological improvements on educational outcomes has reinforced my understanding of technology’s potential to bridge gaps and create opportunities. It has also made me appreciate the importance of ensuring that technological advancements are accessible to all, as they can significantly enhance the quality of education and, by extension, the quality of life. This realization has strengthened my commitment to leveraging technology to solve real-world problems and drive positive change.
Ruiming Gu, IS '25
Ruiming worked with the Palau Financial Intelligence Unit to build a database and ensure higher levels of entity security.
My time in Palau gave me a firsthand look at how Information Systems can add real value to organizations, especially in places with limited access to advanced technology.
As a small country, Palau is actively working to automate many manual processes. Working with Palau's Financial Intelligence Unit, I was able to contribute by developing a database to streamline entity information and automating data processing. Handling all the coding myself gave me a deeper appreciation for the role technology plays in solving real-world challenges. This experience showed me that even small, incremental improvements can make a big difference, and the importance of continually refining these solutions to maximize their effectiveness.
Anushka Satpute, Qatar IS '25
Anushka worked with the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) school in Rwanda to redesign and create an accessible Alumni Management System to support ASYV's mission.
This experience has significantly shaped my understanding of community engagement and social responsibility. As an intern developing the alumni management system for the School of ASYV, I had the opportunity to talk to many current students as well as alumni. Getting to know them made me realize that community engagement is more than just having a close-knit community. It is about fostering meaningful connections and understanding the collective effort required to organize even simple activities like "village time" at ASYV. This experience helped me see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating and maintaining an engaged and responsible community.
Saul Bezner, Public Policy & Mgmt
Saul worked with the Palau Automated Land and Resource Information System, or PALARIS, to create a data hub as a long term solution to increase accessibility
Many of us have read a map, but few of us have met its maker. As an intern for Palau Automated Land and Resource Information System (PALARIS), I was fortunate to work with seven GIS specialists and two tax code specialists. Their personal knowledge of Palau and its topography made the internship an unforgettable, unique experience. I learned quite a bit about geographic information systems, but, perhaps more importantly, I learned how to see the world from several new perspectives.
Jonah Nascimento, CMIST, Masters
Jonah worked with the The Palau Financial Institutions Commission (FIC) to implement an optimal solution to digitize the
bank license application process in Palau.
My experience as a technology consultant with the Palau Financial Institutions Commission was both transformative and meaningful in my understanding of the impact that technology can have on an organization.
Living and working with the Palauan community made the project deeply personal and rewarding, and gave me deep insights into the role that culture played in their work. By immersing myself in the environment and collaborating with the FIC, we were able to discover problems and develop solutions that would have a genuine impact on the bank licensing system. Through my time digitizing the bank license application process and enhancing approval flow transparency, I saw firsthand the effect of sustainable digital solutions. This experience has reshaped how I view the communities around me and reinforced my desire to address technology issues in communities around the world.
Annie Zhang, IS '25
Annie worked with the Alumni Management System at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda to help establish an online management system that would benefit ASYV alumni and the community.
This internship at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, a Rwandan high school, taught me how technology can foster meaningful connections and empower communities. Working closely with faculty, we developed an alumni management system, connecting alumni and providing essential career and educational resources. Living in the village with the students and alumni for two months, I saw how they were dedicated to building a brighter future. It was deeply rewarding to see how technology can support their efforts, becoming a bridge for lasting support and resilience. This experience highlighted for me technology’s potential to help address real-world challenges.
Gabriel Sims, Social & Decision Sciences '26
Gabriel worked with the Servicio Nacional de Adiestramiento en Trabajo Industrial (SENATI) in Peru to revamp their marketing and IT applications.
This summer in Lima, Peru opened my eyes to the diversity of world perspectives and the value of technical education. SENATI is a wonderful organization with a rich history of uplifting Peru and individuals there through technical training. In spite of their accomplishments, there was room for organizational improvement using Power BI and data driven solutions. I often take for granted the exposure to technology that we have at Carnegie Mellon, so being able to use my skills to indirectly help those benefited by SENATI had both a meaningful impact and was personally satisfying.
Masahiko Shinjo, Public Policy & Mgt, Masters
Masahiko worked with the Financial Intelligence Unit in the Cook Islands to help secure and reinforce the banking systems.
My summer at the Cook Islands Financial Intelligence Unit was one of the most invaluable experiences I have at Carnegie Mellon University. I worked closely with the FIU director, neighboring governments, and local banks to improve the usability of a financial transaction database, making it easier to detect suspicious financial activity and ultimately helping to make the Cook Islands a safer place. The Cook Islands are literally a remote island group in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, over three hours by plane from the nearest big city. While options for shopping, internet access, and dining were limited, I embraced the simplicity and enjoyed moments of reflection by the beautiful sea and coral reefs.
Miu Nakajima, Civil & Environmental Engineering '25
Miu worked with The Cook Islands Financial Intelligence Unit (CIFIU) to implement direct data report uploading from banks into their financial intelligence information system.
The internship and experience with the Cook Islands Financial Intelligence Unit has significantly altered and widened my perspective of the world, and enhanced my prior understanding of my social responsibility in the global community. Throughout my time in the Cook Islands, I was exposed to the expansive, tight-knit and collaborative network in the Pacific region for the betterment of security, and through that gained heavy mentorship from engineering experts at government facilities I would have never had the chance to encounter. This experience truly highlighted what it means to be a global citizen, the collective effort it takes to truly facilitate a nation's security -- and ultimately, the importance of human connection and community as a catalyst for change.