“I am someone who uses any opportunity that comes my way and believes that participation is more important than the fear of losing,” says Tameem Ansari M from Chennai, India. A KTU informatics student has already developed a prize-winning innovation and is heading towards the end of his bachelor’s at the same time working in a local company as an AI specialist. He calls Kaunas his home away from home.
The university for Tameem served as a springboard for his many achievements, including winning two prizes at the innovation fair Technorama, organised by Kaunas University of Technology (KTU).
EchoCode AI – this is the name of Ansari’s and his friends’ team – was noticed not only by Reiz Studio but also by Accenture Lithuania, who awarded the team with a cash prize.
Solution for IT sector – cheaper and more accessible than those existing in the market
“The idea originated from my challenges as a programmer, particularly when fixing code snippets. I realised that many programmers, like me, often seek external AI solutions for coding help. My goal is to bring these AI capabilities directly into the coding environment, making the process more efficient and seamless,” explains Tameem.
Although there are a few similar solutions available in the market, the one proposed by KTU students is more affordable and accessible, due to using an open-source model Llama 3 from Meta to build an extension.
Ansari believes that new ideas stem from the challenges that we encounter ourselves: “As someone who has been coding for a long time and has some interest in AI, I wanted to create a solution that combined these two areas.”
The team is currently working on further research, refining their product before seeking support from investors.
University helped to secure a job in IT
Ansari says that he chose IT as he was interested in computer science, and the field seemed to offer a lot of exciting opportunities. While researching universities he found out KTU and was impressed by a strong syllabus and good reviews.
His idea to study in Kaunas was supported by Kaunas’ reputation as an IT hub in the Baltics. Before arriving here, Tameem also contacted a student ambassador for inside knowledge on university life.
“For instance, I participated in the UpinLT competition handled by KTU Wanted, which led to an interview with KESKO SENUKAI. Winning the competition not only earned me a prize but also secured an internship, marking a significant turning point in my career and life,” says Tameem, who is working as a junior AI specialist in the same company today.
Although he is not sure what he will do after his studies, Tameem remains very grateful to the university for the supportive teaching staff, new friends, and excellent study curriculum.
“I’m grateful for how these opportunities have accelerated my professional growth. So, KTU is not just about studies for me, but it is about the opportunities it creates,” says KTU informatics student from India.
Lithuanians – more open than expected
He enjoyed spending time on the campus – in the library, cafeterias and other spaces. Over time, Ansari made friends from various countries, and engaging with them was fun.
“I was surprised to find out that many Lithuanians are very friendly, speak excellent English, and are more open than I expected. My impressions improved further as I experienced the supportive and encouraging nature of the lecturers and professors,” says a KTU informatics student from India.
Food and communication with family is something that a young IT specialist misses living far away from home. Thankfully, technology allows staying connected with the close ones, and in Kaunas, one can find the ingredients necessary to make familiar dishes.
“After spending a long time in Kaunas, I’ve become familiar with the culture, people, and food, and I now consider Kaunas to be a second home. As I’m approaching the end of my studies, I already started getting the “missing feel”, says Tameem with a smile.
