Meet Eashwinder

On hearing that UTS was building more facilities, providing students with access to cutting-edge technology and offering internships as part of its undergrad program, Eash transferred to UTS after spending his first year at another university. 

Now in the final year of his UTS bachelor’s degree and currently enjoying an internship with Thales Australia, Eash is excited about what the future holds. 

“Having the chance to complete internships with your degree program definitely helps give you confidence when thinking about entering the workforce,” he said. 

“My first internship in the Spring session of 2015 helped me focus on what I wanted to get out of my studies and the areas of engineering that I wanted to pursue such as mechanical/mechatronic design and robotics.” 

Being able to complete a second internship at the end of my degree has given me a glimpse of the future and the type of company I would like to work for.

“Any concerns I had about how I would be perceived being an intern disappeared on my first day with Thales. Everyone is so welcoming and makes a special effort to help you feel comfortable,” he said. 

“Thales looks after you well and if you’re assigned a project, someone will train you as you’re going along. You’re treated as a proper employee from the start and the company puts a lot of trust in you with real responsibilities.” 

Internships really do allow you to gain real-world skills and experience, but they’re also an opportunity to meet and learn from people in the workplace. 

“I’ve had the chance to speak to different team members at Thales, some have been with the company for 20 years while others have just started. You learn so much listening to other people tell you about their career and the roles they’ve held over the years and the loyalty they have towards the company. It’s really helped shape my own thoughts about the type of job and work environment that would best suit my goals.” 

As well as making valuable connections, Eash says that finding an opportunity like Thales helps you gain some industry insight. 

“Internships are a chance to make new friends, but you also get to network and build some useful contacts for the future,” he said. 

Eash says that if you’re interested in pursuing engineering then a degree with an internship program offers a definite advantage. 

Engineering is one of the degrees where you need to put your theory into practical use and an internship lets you do just that.

“UTS forces your hand as you need to complete an internship to get your degree, but there’s always plenty of support available to help you find your placements.”  

“My internships have helped me plan out the type of engineering path I want to follow and build valuable industry connections that will hopefully help me stand out from the crowd when I’m ready to take the next step in my career.”