Environmental Engineering gave me flexibility, says Delhi boy
Posted on
Monday, May 6, 2019
Times News Network
The need to pursue a niche specialisation and gain professional expertise led me to enrol for a Master’s in Environmental Engineering programme, at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. After completing BTech in Mechanical and Automation Engineering from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi in 2015, I worked with a software firm in Gurgaon. The online search for different programmes at global universities began during my stint as an application engineer with a material handling equipment maker in 2017. I received AUD 10,000 Future of Change scholarship at UNSW.
To get this scholarship, we need a combination of good academic grades and a vision on how one would add value to the university and vice versa. What I liked about my programme was the flexibility to pick and choose courses to match my interest. It also enabled me to specialise either in transport, water or sustainability in environmental engineering or pick courses from different fields.
After completing a year at the university, I realise that my university experience — be it learning from faculty and subject matter experts, receiving professional development advice or delivering projects--has been a breeze despite tough deadlines.
Guest lectures by industry professionals also enriched my academic experience. My ‘Environmental frameworks, Law and Economics course’ was taught by a practising lawyer and an economist.
Working on group assignments with students from different countries and also extensive analytical presentations in a class taught me teamwork and time management.
There are several support services available for students in my campus to help me. This includes educational support advisors, counsellors and disability support services. My university ensures inclusiveness in all the programmes. Last semester, I was selected to demonstrate a course ‘Environmental Principles and Systems’ for undergraduate students. This was a valuable experience as I could not only learn as a student but also as a teacher. On-campus employment is a unique feature in Australian institutions. Starting out in a casual role in student life and communities, I helped my university staff run a skill development volunteering programme and offered a role as ‘program support assistant’ alongside my regular studies. This made my experience more well-rounded and hands-on.
