Postgrad UK 2008/2009 - (Page 9) www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK Advice and Information 9 OLYMPIC BID Over at Team Bath, the University’s sports village, Mahana Clutha from New Zealand is training for the Olympics. A talented Judo competitor, she joined the University under its Sports Scholarship programme, set up to offer gifted students the chance to become elite athletes. ‘I started Judo when I was five and still really enjoy competing. My coach in Christchurch put me in touch with Bath – it’s well known around the world for its sporting excellence. The Sports Scholarship allows me to continue my education and compete at professional level.’ Mahana is completing a PhD in mathematics, alongside her Judo training. ‘There are postgraduate opportunities in sports related fields but the Sports Scholarships are a big draw,’ says Sports Development Manager Mike Callan. ‘A student may want to work in computer science but they may also be a champion in swimming; their academic interest does not always match with their sporting interest, which is why this programme is popular. ‘Many athletes have studied here; Dr Stephanie Cook, who was a gold medallist in Sydney in modern pentathlon, studied medicine here and is now working as a doctor in London.’ Bath is one of only three universities in the UK that offers Sports Scholarships but it was here that the programme was pioneered, more than 20 years ago. Since then the University has invested more than £30million in new facilities, including an indoor running track, air pistol and fencing salle, a judo dojo and a simulated bobsleigh and skeleton start area. ‘Students at Bath have access to fantastic facilities and some of the world’s best coaches,’ says Mike. ‘There are 139 coaches based here daily working across 15 sports. ‘We are providing the right support to help our students reach both their sporting and academic potential. People come from all over the world to train here; we have athletes from New Zealand, Brazil, Malta, Ghana, Portugal and China.’ Mahana is making the most of her training and is now competing in tournaments ahead of the 2012 Olympics. ‘My PhD is mainly theoretical, so I can study wherever I am, which is great, as I am training five hours every day and competing in tournaments most weekends. My PhD supervisor is extremely supportive and allows me to fit my studies in around judo. ‘I am competing in B tournaments at the moment, to get points for the Olympics. The more competitions I compete in, the more points I will get to qualify for 2012. That is my ultimate goal, to compete in the Games, but I also know I will have a good education to fall back on. The environment here is great and the teaching staff are excellent.’ THE SCIENTIST Fellow PhD student Girrish Pudaruth agrees with Mahana. ‘When I first arrived I wanted to meet with all my lecturers. They were very open and willing to spend time with me. The University is a great place to learn and the teaching reputation of the staff is important to students.’ Girrish joined the University as a Masters student but is now in the second year of his PhD in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. ‘I am working on electrical power systems, focusing on renewables and their integration into power systems,’ he explains. ‘These sources are intermittent and variable, so you need careful planning to integrate them into a system. ‘I am looking specifically at a pricing structure for renewables. My supervisor has close links with industry, so I have access to organisations, such as National Grid, EDF and NPower. The University carries out a lot of research for these companies, which gives students good exposure to industry.’ The Postgraduate School at the Department is one of the University’s biggest. Students can complete a PhD or choose from one of its four Masters. ‘Our Masters are based on the research interests of the Department; students can study telecommunications, space and radio, microelectronics and optoelectronics, electrical power and energy systems and electromagnetics and machines and drives,’ explains Dr Adrian Evans. The University also offers an MSc in Electrical Power Systems, which is taught via distance learning. ‘This is a popular course with more than 130 students enrolled on it and it is the only one of its kind. Students can complete the programme full time or study modules as part of their continued professional development,’ adds Adrian. INDUSTRY WORK All four Masters include elements of design, business and project management, in order to prepare graduates for industry. ‘Our programmes have a practical element,’ remarks Adrian. ‘Students work on a project, which has often been set by industry. This gives them the soft skills employers are looking for, such as marketing, project management and problem solving. We have an industrial advisory board who make sure our programmes prepare students for employment.’ Employment destinations for students studying in this Department are good, Adrian adds. ‘A lot of our students end up working in telecommunications (there is a shortage of specialists in this area) but others have gone on to work for organisations such as Sony, National Grid and Western Power.’ Girrish is optimistic about his job opportunities. ‘I am confident that when I return to Mauritius I will be able to find a good job. I have developed a lot of skills during my studies here, such as team work, and most importantly, a good knowledge of the industry and how it works.’ http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK
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