Raja Hassan Raza

Raja visiting Chicago on his way to MIU

Raja Hassan Raza joined MIU’s MS in Computer Science Program last November, and soon he will be looking for a position for his curricular practical training while he finishes the rest of his degree via distance education.

Growing up in Pakistan, Raja had wanted to join the army from a young age. He worked hard in school earning top grades and by the time he graduated from the University of Technology and Engineering in Taxila, he landed a job in the IT department of the Pakistan Air Force, where he helped develop a flight simulation application.

“I consider myself very lucky,” he said. “I got a job at the Air Force before I finished my degree; it’s a big achievement for me.”

While completing his undergraduate degree, Raja taught himself web development and worked through the popular online freelance marketplace Fiverr, helping over 300 international clients, including companies in the US and Canada.

Raja heard about MIU from a university classmate. He wanted to advance his education and become a Java developer. He liked the financial aid package and the block system and he applied. “It’s much easier to study when we are focused on only one subject at a time,” he said.

Raja also appreciates the comprehensive approach to education that not only features qualified faculty, but also extensive career development and personal growth, such as the practice of the Transcendental Meditation® technique.

“I believe that meditation is good for your mental relaxation,” he said. “MIU offers a higher quality of education because it focuses on the students and allows them to pursue a calmness of spirit.”

In his free time, Raja likes to play cricket, soccer, and badminton and learning new sports such as tennis.​