Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 55) SPONSORED BY www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 55 and engineering. ‘Nottingham is obviously very keen on PhD research, but the opportunities for international students in industry are also significant. They can either take that knowledge they have gained here in the UK be it in manufacturing materials, human factors or whatever - and apply it in their home institutions and industries - or they can look at the opportunities available in the UK. This state-of-the-art knowledge will give them a good head start.’ Similarly innovative, multidisciplinary courses like the Master of Enterprise in Advanced Manufacturing Technology at the University of Manchester are also creating highly skilled and highly regarded graduates. Looking at manufacturing processes, automation and computer-aided design amongst other things, this course is delivered in partnership with the Manchester Science Enterprise Centre. Through developing their own projects in collaboration with supervisors or mentors, students get to lean about essential entrepreneurial skills as well as advances in manufacturing technology. But for those more interested in the big picture than launching their own business venture, there are courses like the University of Strathclyde’s MSc in the Management of Competitive Manufacturing which looks at the strategy, tactics and management of manufacturing organisations operating in competitive global markets. However, if it is competition that drives you then perhaps the course you are after is in a field like motorsport rather than management. FAST TRACK TO EMPLOYMENT Yash Pathare is doing an MSc in Automotive and Motorsport Engineering at Brunel University, having completed an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in Mumbai. ‘Since childhood, I was interested in the field of motorsports,’ Yash explains. ‘Mechanical engineering made me realise how much detailed thinking is involved in designing and manufacturing every single component that fits in a modern automobile. The obvious choice for me then, was to take up a postgraduate course to learn more about the science of making cars. ‘My criteria for choosing a university were pretty straightforward - a course content that would give me the chance to learn as many new things as possible, a university that holds a good reputation for engineering, and a place where I will have all the necessary facilities to progress. Brunel satisfied all these criteria.’ A believer in practical experience Yash has been to see races on famous circuits like Brands Hatch and Silverstone. He also jumped at the opportunity to work as a Team Manager for Brunel’s Formula Student team - which involves students and staff working together to build and race their own car, no less. ‘Personally, I believe there is much more to gain by doing things practically than just reading about them in books.’ As well as teaching him about design and manufacture, this experience has also given Yash important interpersonal skills like communication and valuing diversity. ‘Being involved in the Formula Student project has emphasised the benefits of having a brilliant team of individuals, rather than having a team of brilliant individuals,’ he explains. ‘I’ve had the opportunity to work with students from different cultural and educational backgrounds. And I’m sure this experience will be helpful to me in the future.’ Yash is looking to find a role in a motorsport team as a Race Engineer following the course and the practical insight which gives him ‘much more than textbook knowledge’ (as he describes it) should set him up well for this. But if he changes his mind and wants to downshift from the pace of motorsports having covered in detail a vital range of engineering and manufacturing issues, as well as clocking up valuable experience - he will be equally well-placed to join the booming automotive industry in India and make his share of the $145billion. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK
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