Current student profile: Dominic

The UNISS program has given me the opportunity to experience the world of engineering before I've even graduated. I was fortunate enough that my sponsor company, JML Engineered Facades, sent me for three months to work on the construction of the Dubai International Airport. It was an amazing experience, as not only did I learn how to apply what I've learnt in the lecture theatre to real engineering problems, but I also learned what it was like to live with one the biggest construction projects in the world at the moment, and experience the Middle Eastern culture.

JML Engineered Facades is a local Newcastle company that installs advanced glass facades. I worked with the design manager on site and assisted him to solve the various technical problems that arose during the construction process. This included coordinating experiments on site that tested the glass deflection of installed glass, and also managing some aspects of a small glass installation project.

The UNISS program involves working ten weeks a year for my sponsor company. I've found that working between university semesters gives meaning to the theory I learn and helps me keep focused during the semester. I would encourage anyone interested in Engineering to apply for the UNISS scholarship, not only for the financial benefit (though this is great), but because it also allows you to maximise your experience.