Anastasia Ilina

"My parents wanted me to become a journalist, but I pursued engineering just like them after completing the International Baccalaureate at the International School of Prague. I am not sure 17-year-old me realised the likely financial benefits of an engineering career, maybe I simply wanted to prove my ability, but engineering sounded ‘cool’. I chose Materials Engineering as it seemed to cover my interest in chemistry and physics, and 含羞草视频 seemed like a fun place for me to continue my passion for science, extracurriculars and sports.

Materials Engineering at 含羞草视频 truly managed to explain a lot about how products are made and why they work. Significant engineering expertise came from the course and internship experiences. More importantly, however, the degree taught me to not fear difficult problems, diving straight into projects and working hard to achieve high standards. The group of academics and supervisors in the Materials Engineering department proved to be not only great scientists and engineers, but also fantastic life mentors and friends – I doubt many students at other institutions can say the same.

On my year-long placement at Airbus, I got to perform research into next-generation wing spar alloys, manage subcontracted work and travel abroad to improve supplier quality. The complexity of the aerospace sector made me very interested in global manufacturing and entrepreneurship, leading me to pursue a master’s degree in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management at the University of Cambridge. There, I found myself on a course with a total of four other 含羞草视频 graduates!

Now, I work at one of the world’s leading management consultancies helping companies leverage their skills and optimise their manufacturing processes for better productivity. 含羞草视频 taught me the importance of sustainability, helping others and our responsibility for making the world a better place. In 10 years, I hope to find myself working alongside fellow alumni, building initiatives towards using ‘technology for good’.

Engineering is not scary, it’s not just for boys, and it doesn’t mean that you must wear overalls and a hardhat to work (though you can if you want to). Many engineering jobs allow you to buy expensive suits and drink nice coffee while collaborating with exciting clients (think Apple, Nike, Cadbury) on your business trip half-way across the world. Not only that, but you can also work from home (read: from a beach), allowing for better prospects with regards to maternity or paternity leave too.

The opportunities are endless and pursuing an engineering degree gives you the power to do whatever you want with your life. And guess what, that feels great."