Parham Andishehtadbir Mechanical Engineering / Sustainable Energy Systems
Current student
The year in industry was a valuable opportunity to put the theoretical background learned in the course into practice. Every challenge was an opportunity to learn.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Southampton?
During my A level studies at college I visited a number of universities across the UK and found the facilities and university atmosphere at Southampton both interesting and inviting. After the visits, I did some research about the University and came back to meet one of the professors and talk to some students to find out more about the course. One of the best things about the engineering courses at Southampton is the flexibility; I was able to choose general Mechanical Engineering but also had the option to specialise later in the course. These factors, together with Southampton's great reputation, led to me choosing to study at Southampton and I feel that it has been the right choice.
How do you feel that the University has supported you so far?
I believe having a personal tutor was really helpful especially in the first year when I needed to transition from college to university level study. After finishing my second year I did a year in industry placement at CPOWERT Ltd; my tutor suggested I apply for this opportunity. The University’s Careers and Employability service checked my CV and organised a mock interview for me, which was a great help to prepare me and reduce my anxiety. I worked as an Undergraduate Engineer and I was part of the Application team. During my placement I had regular meetings with my tutor to make sure I was achieving all the placement goals. I even had a meeting with my employer and university tutor to discuss my placement progress and decide on collaboration between the company and the University for an individual project in my third year of study.
What skills did you develop or gain from your year in industry?
The year in industry was a valuable opportunity to put the theoretical background learned in the course into practice. From day one, I realised that the working environment is very different from university and I had to adapt to the new environment. Every challenge was an opportunity to learn. As part of the Application team, I improved my team working skills and I acquired practical skills such as data acquisition and testing and analysis.
Can you summarise your Individual Project?
The aim of my individual project is to create a Matlab model of a hybrid vehicle, which is equipped with Controlled Power Technologies' hybrid technology. The model can be used to predict the amount of CO2 emission reduction and fuel saving.
What has been the highlight of your time here so far?
There have been a number of unforgettable experiences during my time in Southampton such as entering the Eurobot competition, becoming a student ambassador, and my year in industry.
The second year group design project, Eurobot, has been one of the best practical experiences that I have had at university so far. The experience of being part of a team and acting as the team leader to make sure we could deliver the project were irreplaceable learning experiences. There were stressful times but at the end when we managed to get into the finals all those hardships felt worthwhile and I was thankful for the opportunity.
What do you enjoy most about living in Southampton?
I always find Southampton a very calm and peaceful city that has a bit of everything. The campus is close to the city centre and there are loads of shops around the campus. The city is also close to London making it ideal for a day trip or two.
What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?
One the key features about the engineering courses at Southampton is flexibility; I had the opportunity choose not only a field of engineering when I started but also a theme of study at the end of second year, allowing me to further select which subject areas interested me. This theme, Sustainable Energy Systems, came with a wide range of optional modules that really boosted my university experience. The other feature would be the amount of practical projects that I did alongside the theoretical parts of the course; I believe this makes Southampton unique from other universities.
What are your lecturers and supervisors like? Have you found them supportive?
I've found the lecturers very responsive, approachable and willing to help; whenever I've had to email them regarding my course or request a meeting I've received a prompt response. I also found that they are very open to suggestions as they wish to provide as informative and engaging lectures as possible.
If you could offer prospective students one piece of advice, what would it be?
I would suggest to them to join societies, especially the ones related to their course, as this will allow them to get more hands-on experience while enjoying their time at university.