Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)
Stephan Gehne
How did you obtain your placement and what help did you receive from the University?
I got my placement the normal way and with a little bit luck. I applied for it, which was followed by a 45min telephone interview with a principal geotechnical engineer and a HR representative. And luckily, they choose me. The contact of the company has been distributed amongst the students by the course manager, who contacted the company.
Can you describe your current job and the types of role that you fulfil?
As an intern, I am assisting professional engineers on various projects. During my placement I am carrying out different types of analyses, e.g. kinematic, numerical and empirical, but also get involved in field programs and get experience on site, e.g. in logging.
What you feel you will gain from the Placement year?
I am getting a lot of experience and the most important thing is, that through the placement I realise what and what for I need the skills learned at university. That increases my motivation to learn more at the university and helps me to link certain topics together and see the bigger picture. Additionally, I am learning skills beyond the scope of the University, which puts me in a very good position for the final year.
What do you enjoy most about studying at the University of Portsmouth?
The conditions for this subject are very good, with the new soil lab and a large variety of equipment as example. But the best are the people working in the department. The lectures know what they are talking about and all the stuff is very helpful and friendly. The course has a high quality, as I can see now at the placement, and gives many challenges to improve yourself. It has been a great time so far and I learned a lot.
What would your advice be to anyone thinking of coming to the University of Portsmouth?
Get your head down in the books and work hard at University. Everything will pay back in a huge scale. But also enjoy the Uni-life and make friends.
Marc Othen
How did you obtain your placement and what help did you receive from the University?
Before starting university I applied to the bursary scheme and filled out an application form and was then selected for an interview in the geological society in London. I was one of 7 students picked after being interviewed by university lecturers and company representatives and was on the bursary scheme. During the first year I attended a matching day where the companies and students had the opportunity to meet and select their favourite and later matched. The University matched me with Keller and I went on to complete a summer placement and currently on my year placement.
Can you describe your current job and the types of role that you for fill?
Currently I am working as an industrial placement Engineer for Keller on the Victoria Station Upgrade. I have had many roles including testing and sampling, contractual and most recently design works and submissions of safe methods of working and issued design sets.
What you feel you will gain from the Placement year?
I will gain many things from the placement including relating the aspects of the course to real life situations and job contracts and learning solutions to these. During my placement year my experience of many different engineering techniques, equipment and solutions will allow me to combine university work with on site experience to prepare me for a career in the industry. I have also developed time management and organisational skills and contractual knowledge and experience of the industry on site and in the office.
What do you enjoy most about studying at the University of Portsmouth?
Portsmouth is a fantastic place to study with industry leading lecturer’s achieving the maximum out of students. There are always things to do around the city and great opportunities to take part in additional lectures and social events.
What would your advice be to anyone thinking of coming to the University of Portsmouth?
I would advise coming to an open day and experience the city and what the subject has to offer you as it’s important to ensure you know all the details of the course before applying.
Megan Vaughan-Ellis
I obtained my placement through the University Industrial Alliance Bursary Scheme. With only Geology as a relevant A-Level I wasn’t sure that I’d have a chance of obtaining a place on the scheme, but I did! The University were very supportive through the whole company matching process, offering advice and encouragement.
I’m currently supporting the Contracts Division, mainly based on sites, particularly in London. I support the Head Engineer on site, analysing grouting and drilling results, amending drawings, helping with costings, supervising drilling and completing final project reports.
I feel I will not only gain a lot of knowledge that is related to my degree, but also about how an Engineering company runs day-to-day. Working with people in different roles is a big aspect of my job, so my social skills are always improving (not that I need much help talking!). Hopefully the placement year experience will also help me attain a job after graduation.
I love how approachable all the staff are in the SEES department, if ever you feel you have a problem or need help, academically or personally, they provide the support needed to help you through Uni. The field trips are another great thing about studying at Portsmouth. Spending time in different places (and sometimes different countries!), with great course mates, gaining skills and knowledge about a subject you love is always a bonus!
My advice to anyone thinking of coming to Portsmouth Uni is to go for it! It’s a lovely location and the Uni offers great support academically and personally. The social aspect is great, there is always something going on, and there are so many different social and sport groups to get involved in, you’ll never get bored!
Christopher Shardlow
How you obtained your placement and what help did you receive from the University?
Throughout my second year of study I researched and applied for employment and internships with hundreds of companies, initially within the UK, but extending my search to Europe, the Americas, and Australia – I think I received 4 or 5 responses, only to state their decline.
I went on to have multiple interviews with companies based in South Africa and Australia as a direct result of the University’s broad industrial contacts. After a great interview with a Portsmouth alumni, now the global Head of Geotechnical & Rock Engineering at AngloGold Ashanti, I secured a position as a Student Underground-Geotechnical Engineer at the Sunrise Dam Gold Mine in Australia for 6 months after a long wait and diligence, I then relocate to South Africa to work in the deepest gold mines in the world for the remainder of the year.
Can you describe your current job and the types of role that you fulfill?
I am currently an Underground Student Geotechnical Engineer operating in the underground section of the Sunrise Dam Gold Mine, Australia. As an Engineer my primary focus is on the regional/local geology’s mechanical interaction, via stresses and pressures, on the mining operations- drives, stopes, and projects, and stabilizing it with ground support techniques – like bolts, fibrecrete or mesh. As a student my current role is focused on the data collection necessary for these designs, and consists of: performing rock/soil strength tests, core logging, data analysis and creation of reports when on the surface. When underground my roles may consist of: site inspections of ground supports/cuttings/stopes, quality checks, instrument calibration & recording.
What you feel you will gain from the Placement year?
Knowledge and Experience. The Placement year will grant me a strong competitive degree, as I will graduate with a year of experience in the Geotechnics field ahead of most other candidates. I am reinforcing all of the experience and insight I have gained through my course- everyday I am performing tests that I was taught in the our lecture’s practicals. The opportunity to ‘preview’ the multitude of job roles and duties of mining, before I actually graduate and dedicate my career to a specific role, is greatly undervalued, as well as the opportunity to develop contacts and relations with people leading the industry. Lastly, I will be earning a competitive salary which will undoubtedly make living as a student easier.
What do you enjoy most about studying at the University of Portsmouth?
The friends I’ve made, the extensive expertise of the staff, the summers on the sea front, the input the students and industrial ties have on the course, the numerous field trips; it all goes a long way into the ongoing satisfaction of studying and enjoying my stay at the University.
What would your advice be to anyone thinking of coming to the University of Portsmouth?
If you’re seeking a career in any Engineering Geology/Geotechnics role then a Degree course that is well connected and influenced by the industry, with as many contacts as possible, is critical to the achieving the first steps pre and post-graduation, and Portsmouth has been offering that for over 40 years.