Mechanical engineering future looking bright for Deakin student

Geelong West resident Bianca Anderson has a bright future in mechanical engineering, with the Deakin University student being awarded the Alcoa Future Leaders of Industry Engineering Award.

Alcoa Future Leaders of Industry Engineering Scholarships target engineering students enrolled in disciplines that are critical to maintaining and growing a world class manufacturing capacity in regional Victoria. Bianca was awarded the scholarship as a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) student who demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and possessed a high level of communication, team and interpersonal skills.

Under the scholarship Bianca is awarded $7,000 to go towards her fourth year academic tuition. She also receives 12 weeks paid work experience at one of Alcoa's sites in Victoria.

Currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Engineering, Bianca will start her work experience at Alcoa in late November. Although it has not been determined at which site she will be working, Bianca is looking forward to the hands on experience.

"I will get to work in a variety of fields, across a number of different projects. I will be working alongside professionals and have some small projects assigned individually. It will give me the opportunity to learn about different aspects of engineering and gain an understanding of engineering principles in practice. I get the chance to have a taste of everything," she said.

The head of Deakin's School of Engineering and IT, Professor Kate Smith-Miles, said the scholarship will provide an excellent platform for practical experience.

"The 12 week work placement at Alcoa will give Bianca a wonderful opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills she has developed at university in a practical setting. Work placements also provide timely awareness of different career paths that are available with an engineering qualification which students find useful before they start to apply for jobs as they approach graduation," she said.

"The criteria for this award, a combination of academic achievement and personal qualities, reflect the mix of skills that employers are looking for in graduates. Developing team work skills and effective communication in the workplace are critical, and work placements such as this enable students to establish informal networks, build contacts and strengthen ties with industry."