Previous UNISS scholar profile: Chris

I graduated from Newcastle University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Computer Engineering. During my time at university, I was sponsored on a UNISS scholarship with Computer Systems Australia, and so I undertook my final year of study part time over two years while working with CSA.

Being on a UNISS scholarship, my university experience was not just one of study (and a uni lifestyle), but also of all-round professional development. Working at CSA afforded excellent opportunities to develop essential skills, such as customer relations, project- and time-management, and teamwork. For someone entering the engineering workplace, I feel that these opportunities put me a long way ahead of the ball game. The extra money was an obvious benefit as well, allowing me to have the freedom during semester to concentrate on study (and other activities), without having to balance a part time job.

Having now graduated from university and taken a position with Bramco Electronics, I have become increasingly aware of the advantages afforded me by the UNISS program. This includes not only the professional skills that I would not otherwise have had the opportunity to hone until entering the workplace, but also the contact with a variety of high-profile engineering firms in the Hunter region and the esteem of a well-recognised industry-sponsored program.

On the back of the benefits of the program for both sponsor and scholar, Bramco Electronics has taken on a UNISS scholar in 2006. I would unreservedly recommend the UNISS program to anyone interested in "getting ahead" professionally.