Profiles

Mr Darshit Dalal
Master of Engineering (Professional)

A PROFESSIONAL advantage was not the only drawcard for Darshit Dalal when he decided to study the Master of Engineering (Professional) at Deakin University.  Mr Dalal also wanted to live in the city of Geelong on Victoria’s south coast.  

Leaving his home in Ahmedabad in India, which has a population of 5.3 million, Mr Dalal was impressed when he arrived in Geelong, with its population of just 230,000.

“I had heard that Geelong was a nice place to live in, but only after coming here did I come to know that Geelong is the best place to stay in,” he said.  “I thought, ‘I am really going to enjoy it here,’” he said.

Despite his interest in Geelong’s lifestyle, Mr Dalal’s main reason for choosing Deakin University above offers from two other universities was for professional reasons; he realised the subjects available at Deakin would give him a head start in his career.  In his research of different university courses, he found that subjects in the Water Environment stream at Deakin provided an in-depth knowledge of water and wastewater processes.

“My first impression about Deakin was that it is going to give me the expertise in water environment, practical exposure and will mould me to be suitable for a professional role in the Australian work environment,” he said.  Now in his final year, he said that that impression has not changed.

The decision has paid off, with Mr Dalal securing a job at Geelong region water authority Barwon Water before he has even finished his course.

One of the differences that Mr Dalal has noticed between education in India and Australia has been the emphasis on practical learning.  This has included working on industrial projects in which he learnt about the workplace and dealt with people at different levels of seniority.  He said it was essential to gain this hands-on experience in order to achieve his goal of entering the workforce in Australia.

“Coming from a different place, it becomes very important to learn about what happens in industry, learn practically and deal with people at different levels,” he said.  “I have gained this experience through Deakin and its industrial partners.

In the future Mr Dalal aims to work in the area of water environment and learn more about wastewater processes, water processes and asset development.  “By doing so, I want to grow in the water industry,” he said.

Mr Dalal has also enjoyed the opportunity to learn from expert and co-operative staff that made it easy to fit into Australian life and adjust to the hands-on teaching style at Deakin University.