Christmas Break School Visit

Written By Ioan Alexandru Herdea

Holidays are the time of the year when most students go back home. Some of them to spend time with their families or just to go back to meet up with old friends. What is guaranteed, is our aim to maximise our opportunities in those short time slots.

The last break in this academic year was at Christmas, some of us IEAs headed back home. As we love the University of Sheffield so much, it is inevitable that we want to tell others about our life here and about the Faculty of Engineering. I had already mentally prepared my talk about Sheffield in readiness to answer questions received from my family about my time here.

I hoped to share my experience about the first semester with students at my old high school and others schools if possible. I have to admit that I did not simply go straight into classes and start talking to the students! Before leaving Sheffield, members of the IEA organised a training session on carrying out presentations in schools. This excellent and informative session, was run by Marta Grzybek and Abhinav Kongari. Plus, I got a polo shirt with the UoS and the IEA Logo on it, which is amazing!!! Just imagine the feeling of walking among old high school mates and teachers with that emblazoned on your chest.

In preparation for my visit I created my own PowerPoint presentation. It was pretty straightforward and didn’t take long, as I only had about 45 minutes speaking time. My talk was not for promotional or marketing purposes but to inform students about my personal experiences, including what Sheffield is like as a city, student life, my course, being an IEA, the process of enrolment, and of course, talking about our much loved Diamond building.

Now…I think it is time to tell you about how the presentations actually went. Well, I was very surprised to find out that at least 30 students were interested in what I was going to talk about. This happened at each presentation and was carried out in three different places. I have to mention that, from my own point of view, opening yourself up in front of a such a large group of people may be a bit scary and you may be nervous. However, for me it was the complete opposite. The experience gave me so much confidence, to know that my words were so interesting to others. The fact that I was studying abroad at such a high ranking institution, the University of Sheffield, provoked a lot of interest. I began my presentation by going through slides with a lot of enthusiasm. As I had rehearsed what I was going to say, I was able to keep an eye on my audience and noticed that they were all avidly listening. When it came to the Q and A session, there were many raised hands. I was asked all types of questions from fees to how much I spend on parties!

Finally, I shall not forget about the last visit I made. The audience was made up of rugby players and as I am quite a slender person, and could be described as a ‘stick’, when I was surrounded by them, it reminded me of a Laurel and Hardy film, but the feeling was good. This is because I am also a professional player, I know that participating in team sports, helps to build a good character, so I was sure they would be quiet and they would pay attention.

  

Now that a few months have passed by, I realize what an amazing experience it was. I feel so proud to represent my University everywhere I go and I would strongly recommend everyone to do this. This experience can give you so much confidence and provide a lot of fulfilment during your academic years.

Meet our International Engineering Ambassadors: Sebina Kalawadwala

Name: Sebina Kalawadwala

Course: MEng Civil and Structural Engineering

Nationality: Indian

Hi, first of all I’ll start by telling you a bit about myself. I am Sebina Kalawadwala, a first year Civil Engineering student from Gujarat, India. I have completed my 12^th CBSE boards from Lancers Army School, Surat. I am passionate about sports, especially table tennis. A good stress reliever for me is listening to music or curling up in bed with a good book.

Now going to the most essential question, why I chose to study at the University of Sheffield and a more pressing one, what made me come here, hundreds of miles away from my home and family? Well to be honest the decision was not easy but I can tell you this, it is definitely worth it. I chose this University because I was looking for a very specific kind of course, i.e. MEng Civil and Structural Engineering, which is a 4 year integrated masters course. Not a lot of people know this but in the UK, as of now, there are only a handful of universities offering this course of which the University of Sheffield is the best. The University has a lot to offer in addition to their study programs, the Students’ Union has been voted, 4 times in a row, the best Students’ Union in the country. We have more than 300 societies and sports clubs - there is something for everyone here and if there isn't then they can start their own society.

What I love about my department?

The thing I love most is that here at the University it’s not all about theory; we are provided with real life hands-on practical experience. How? Let me give you an example. Through the study of Civil Engineering, everyone knows that one will go ahead in life to design and build bridges and other structures after gaining a deep understanding of the principles behind it, but would you expect a first year student to do the same? The answer will most definitely be no. Going ahead of the conventional thinking, we were asked to build a model bridge purely from our intuitions and qualitative judgment, excluding any sort of technical or mathematical calculation. Here we were given a brief which we had to strictly adhere to and, like a real life situation, we bought and sold materials, hence calculating the total cost of the bridge. Later we tested the bridge and, to avoid any penalties, we ensured that the latter was able to carry the required minimum load of 8kg.

Going through this exercise I am sure that I learnt a lot more than I ever could from any textbooks.  I am confident this exercise was just the tip of the iceberg - the department has a lot more to offer in the future. I am eagerly looking forward to my time here.

In my profile I could have gone on talking about numbers but personally I feel numbers are boring and you can never get a true sense of something from them, so instead I decided to write about one of my most cherished experiences and I hope it will give a feel of how studying at the University of Sheffield is. 

Meet our International Engineering Ambassadors: Andrei-Claudiu Roibu

Name: Andrei-Claudiu Roibu (Andrei for friends ;) )

Course: Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry (MEng)

Nationality: Romanian

Hi all!  First thing first: I am from Romania and was born in eastern Romania in a town called Bicaz. My name is Andrei Roibu, and I am a student… wait just a minute. Am I the only one that thinks this is a little too mainstream and classical? Hope not. First thing you need to know about Sheffield: we like to do things our way.

Before I go on writing anything else, let me introduce you to Rascal Flatts, and their song: Life is a Highway (click to open link). I could honestly say that this song best describes the way I see life and myself. A little warning before anything else: you might find me a bit crazy, but don’t worry: harmless crazy.

Now why Rocket Science at the University of Sheffield?

Yes, I did say Rocket Science because that is what is may seem for many of you. However, it’s not quite so. Firstly, I went for Aerospace Engineering because I always like a challenge. Being an aerospace engineer offers you the chance to be a true “universal engineer” because you gain skills that can be used in almost any other field, ranging from Mechanical Engineering to Law and Management. More than that, the course offers me flexibility, and the first year (where I currently stand) is an introduction, that allows you to taste and choose what field you want to specialize in afterwards. This flexibility combined with a high standard of education offered by the University, ranked 69^th in the World Times Higher Education, 5^th for Aerospace Undergraduate in the UK by The Complete University Guide and 1^st in the UK as Student Satisfaction by the Times Higher Education, convinced me to choose to come and study here.

So, why do you like it so much?

There are many things to say here. Probably the thing I enjoy most about Aerospace Engineering is its complexity and the challenging aspects of studying it. I grew up in a family of engineers, me being the 3^rd generation so far. Being part of this team at Sheffield University seems to me like I am surrounded by the best engineers, not only present but also future.

And what about teaching and studying?

The answer to that question is teamwork: you and the staff. A lot of what we do here is individual work, just as one of our professors who always tells us that this is the way good engineers are born. The staff offers us guidance in all that we are doing, and although they have to handle more than a hundred students in each year and subject, you do feel that they care for you as an individual, and for your development. Moreover, we would really need a 30-hour day to get involved in all the activities and opportunities they offer us: from research opportunities for undergraduates to flight simulators, from conferences held by world renowned experts to projects where you build drones and human powered aircraft and so on. It’s truly amazing and it takes a while to take in… well, this if we don’t mention all the activities going on at the Students Union, of course.

Okay, fair enough. It sounds interesting. And how’s Sheffield as a city?

 When I started walking around the city center, I discovered a lively, green, modern city, one of the most lively I have ever seen. I discovered that it is THE safest and THE greenest in all the UK, and also one of the, if not THE cheapest to live in as a student (let’s admit it, we all have money issues). This, combined with a vivid cultural life (from theater and ballet to clubs and pubs) and the huge amount of facilities offered by The University of Sheffield and The Students Union, make Sheffield the best city for me. Honestly, I would take Sheffield instead of London in every day of the week.

Well, why not any other Uni? Why Sheffield Uni?

I will be brief here, because there is a brief answer. 1. Because they care for me, for you, for us as students and they prove this each and every day, from the moment you apply through UCAS to the day you graduate and beyond. 2. They are the best at what they are doing, and they strive to remain as such, and I feel like I belong among them, because I strive to be the best as well.

And what will you do after you graduate?

As I said above, I wish to be the best at what I do. I also like to plan ahead, long term. At the moment, after I graduate with masters after a five year course, I wish to go on and do my PhD. Where I will do it, I don’t yet know. All I know is that The University of Sheffield has high chances of seeing me around as a PhD student, because from what I’ve heard, we are in the top 3 universities in the UK in terms of research in aerospace, and by the time I finish, we might even be 1^st. Afterwards, hopefully, a company will have me work for it, and in the distant future, who knows: write some history books, maybe go back into politics (no boo-ing, please), and definitely a family and kids.

Any last piece of advice?

Yes. This is what I tell all the people I talk with about coming to Uni. At first, choose with your heart. Choose what you want to do, what you will still want to do after 30 years of doing it, when you leave home for work. Afterwards, choose carefully the best country, city, university and course for you. For me, the best was here at the University of Sheffield. Take a look at the website, read a bit about it, and who knows, maybe it will be the best for you too.

For any Romanian readers requiring help or advice on the application process, or any other queries email me at aroibu1@sheffield.ac.uk. Take care and looking forward to hearing from you. 

What to do with my Mechanical Engineering Degree?

What to do with my Mechanical Engineering Degree?

Written by: Birju Galaiya

In this blog I will explore the career paths a Mechanical Engineering Student can follow once they have finished their degree. Apart from the degree the University offers you, they support you in every possible way they can to perhaps help you find a part-time job, build your skills or apply for a graduate scheme.

Have you ever thought about what you’re really going to do once you have gained a degree? Which would be your ideal company? What you want to specialize in and what is going to be the future trends in the engineering industry? Well, most of you wouldn’t have given deep thoughts but I don’t blame you- you have enough on your plate at the moment focusing on passing exams. I was the same.

But I think it’s really important to have a plan on what your aspirations are. Yes, you will study for 3

or maybe 4 years. Then you need to look for a job. This I believe is the hard part. Mechanical Engineering is the broadest kind of engineering where you could end up working in the aerospace industry, building services, energy sector or in the transport and automotive sector. It’s really up to you which industry you are interested in! Personally, I am keen in joining the energy sector and the rail industry. In the end whichever industry you want to join- they want the same thing from you: a good set of skills that supplement your degree. In order for you to do this you need to create a CV- a profile of your achievements and the type of skills you possess.

The Careers Service at the University of Sheffield supports students in their quests for jobs in a number of ways. They help you develop and perfect your CV by facilitating a one-on-one session with a careers advisor who guides you through the process. Furthermore, throughout the year, they have talks and workshops targeting a particular group of students. For example they would have a talk about how international students can get part-time jobs and what they need to do in terms of visa restrictions. The talks are very helpful, especially for international students. Other talks include ways on improving the way students fill in job application forms. Also, you can undertake workshops where you can, including others, improve on your communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

When it comes to the tests and interviews most companies now have, it is important for you to be prepared for them thoroughly to increase your chances of success in a competitive job market. The Careers Service frequently carries out mock tests and interviews which you can use to prepare yourself. I have taken few of these tests and I can say that they build up your confidence and give you hints about what you need to put more effort in.

Once you graduate, you have to apply for a job. Without much industrial experience this becomes much harder and for that reason many students now try supplement their studies with real industry work experiences such as a summer internship and a year out in industry. The university makes it a bit easier for you as they advertise many internship opportunities available for students rather than you having to search online (hassle!). Every semester, the university hosts a careers fair for all types of courses (not only engineering) where employers come into campus and advertise their vacancies. These fairs are important as you not only make good contacts with the recruiters but you can ask them whether the job would suit you or any other job related queries. These fairs are really popular and the number of students that turn up for them is incredible.

Recently, the Careers Service introduced a mentoring scheme where current students are put in contact with Alumni in industry. I just finished this scheme and having a former student talk to you about how you can develop your career is really helpful especially because they have been in your shoes so they can advise you on what you can do.

I hope I have not scared you guys by talking about your future careers but it’s a worth a thought. The University has been very supportive in this regards and has made it much easier for students like me to explore their potential. If you want to know more about a career in Mechanical Engineering, please feel free to ask me. J

What does the University offer?

Written by Birju Galaiya

In this blog I will explore into what the university offers in terms of the facilities and support for students. It is really important for all the students to be satisfied with the services provided to them- whether it is directly related to their studies (e.g. library resources) or help them undertake activities outside their course (e.g. sports). I have been impressed by the facilities available to us- it just makes the university experience complete!

As always, with studying being a priority for all students, the University has 3 libraries that students can use for their study time. The biggest of them is the Information Commons that delivers high quality IT-enabled study spaces and 24 hour access to student materials. Having 6 levels, it has study desks where students can read or plug in a laptop, soft-seating areas where students may work informally or relax and specially allocated space for silent study (too silent for my liking!). It also has a 24hour café to cater for those students who are lazy to go back home. Being up to date with technology, the computer system allows you to book computers, group rooms and text books in advance. There are plenty of text books available in all the libraries allowing you to refer to them during revision.

There is a dedicated team of staff that provides computing facilities for students to meet all their learning, research and development needs. It maintains over 1400 computers across the campus together with the printing machines, ensuring they are functioning at all times. With their Laptop Loan Service, students can borrow laptops for free. Also, students are also allowed to borrow creative media equipment such as video cameras which students can use for their society events or even module assignments.

If things are not going right for you, there is always someone you can talk to in the Student Advice Centre. Whether it’s something personal, course related or accommodation problems, you can always count on their advice. It’s all fun and games when you’re healthy and keeping well until you hit rock-bottom. I experienced that during my first semester in second year when I fell ill for more than a month. You feel weak, miss home and a lose appetite. Frustrating as it may be, you have to attend lectures so you do not miss out on topics. Thankfully, the University’s Health Service really assisted me during this rough time. Booking for appointments to see a doctor was not too much of a hassle and you do not have to wait for a long period of time for you to get an appointment. I had a blood test taken at a nearby hospital that gave doctors more information about my condition. The doctors were very understanding and gave me advice and prescriptions on how to get better quickly. Overall, I was pleased by the services they provided.

Being a sport fanatic, I was hoping for great sporting facilities that I could use and yes- Sheffield delivered. The University’s own centre for sports- Sport Sheffield has a lot to offer including several floodlit football and hockey pitches, a swimming pool, state of the art gym, badminton courts and a bouldering wall for the daredevils. You can join the different intra-mural leagues where teams compete against each other while also getting a chance to have a break from studies. Sheffield, known for its hills, has been a brilliant place for me to explore my running- I enjoy running in the numerous parks, hills and get a chance to see some beautiful scenery Sheffield has to offer. If not Sport Sheffield, Sheffield offers other venues such as the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre which as an Olympic-sized 50m swimming pool. Whatever sport you are interested in, you won’t be disappointed.

These are just some of the things the University offers. There are loads more!

The University of Sheffield has been ranked #1 in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey!

Written By: Alireza Parandeh

The University of Sheffield has today been named number one university in the UK for student experience in this year's Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey. What makes this award particularly special is that the vote comes not from a panel of experts from other universities, but those who know us best - University's own students.

The survey compared university against 16 different categories such as academic standards, social life, student accommodation, and many other categories that helps students make decision where to study.

For me personally, Sheffield was the best decision I made in my life as it has one of best Engineering faculties in the UK and its social and student life alongside its students union are the best in the country. After living in the city for the past 3.5 years I can confidently recommend Sheffield to be a great city to live in as a student since it is one of the safest big cities in the UK and also the greenest.
Just like the full package!

According to the Times Higher Education Website:

" Sheffield also secured joint top place out of 111 UK universities ranked in this year’s survey, which polled 14,300 students, when it came to satisfaction with facilities and accommodation."

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/times-higher-education-student-experience-survey-2014/2013333.article

International Engineering Ambassador - Shruti Vasudev

Written By: Alireza Parandeh

If you remember, a few months back near summer we posted a blog entry about Shruti and her placement. She's currently an international engineering student from University of Sheffield, working for National Instruments, one of the biggest data acquisition companies that specialise in data logging and solving real world measurement problems. 

International bioengineering student Shruti, talks about her experiences at The University of Sheffield as an international student and an international engineering ambassador. 

Watch the video below to find out more about Shruti and her work at National Instruments.