From Peru to UNI: Daniel Chapilliquen’s Graduate Journey
A UNI–UDEP partnership success story
UNI collaborates with universities worldwide to enhance student and scholar mobility, as well as facilitate knowledge and cultural exchange. In Latin America, we are establishing a strong community with partner universities that trust us with their students, alumni, and faculty, enabling them to pursue their undergraduate or graduate programs on our campus. For example, in Peru, we have partnered with Universidad de Piura (UDEP). Currently, we have collaborations with the Wilson College of Business and the Applied Engineering Department, and we are also working with the Communication and Media Department.
Through the partnership between UDEP's College of Engineering and UNI's Applied Engineering program, we are offering a pathway from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree. This program is open to UDEP students who are either in their final year or who have completed their Industrial and Systems Engineering bachelor's degree within three years of applying. Students may receive up to nine hours of transfer credit toward the UNI Master of Science in Applied Engineering degree for approved UDEP coursework completed at the undergraduate level.
Ing. Daniel Chapilliquén is the first graduate student admitted to this program, and we are thrilled to share his impressions and experience so far.
Interview with Daniel Chapilliquen
Interviewer: What has the transition from Universidad de Piura to UNI been like? Daniel: “Moving from UDEP to UNI has been exciting and challenging. At UDEP, I built a strong base of knowledge and skills in Industrial and Systems Engineering. At UNI, I joined new labs and adapted to a very hands-on style with many reports and projects. I also work as a graduate assistant, so I must learn how to balance study, research, and teaching. The community is friendly, and professors give clear guidance, which helped me feel part of the campus community quickly”
Interviewer: What challenges and opportunities have you encountered during your first semester at UNI? Daniel: “My main challenges were time management and fast academic English. I improved by planning my week, taking extra English courses, and practicing clear, simple language. Opportunities include modern labs, supportive mentors, and real projects in microcontrollers, digital electronics, and Lean/Kaizen, a continuous improvement philosophy and set of practices focused on eliminating waste, improving processes step by step, and engaging everyone in an organization to deliver more value with fewer resources. I also assist students in labs. These experiences strengthened my technical skills and leadership.”
Interviewer: Tell us about the project you won with the Graduate College? Daniel: “The prototype uses a distance sensor and a Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller to measure the fill level of a trash bin. When the waste reaches a predefined threshold, the system automatically sends an email alert to a designated address, notifying staff that the bin is nearly full and should be emptied. Once the bin is cleared, the device returns to normal monitoring without sending repeated notifications. This project demonstrates how low-cost electronics and simple Internet-based tools can be combined to address everyday operational issues, such as overflowing bins in high-traffic areas. In the future, this concept could be expanded to multiple containers and integrated into a centralized dashboard, enabling universities and other institutions to optimize cleaning routes and reduce unnecessary trips to empty partially filled bins.”
- Interviewer: What are your goals for the rest of your graduate program? Daniel:
- “Strengthen skills in research, embedded systems, and computing.
- Publish at least one paper or poster and present at a conference.
- Build 1–2 prototypes that solve real campus or community problems.
- Improve English communication and teaching skills.”
Learn by doing; start small and improve fast
Learn by doing; start small and improve fast. Treat mistakes as data and try again. Serve others and remember your “why”. Kindness matters. Many international students leave home to chase a dream and supporting each other helps us all feel at home. Daniel Alexander Chapilliquén Nicolás
