The mechanisms of modern vehicles have always caught my imagination, and, being brought up in Dubai, watching an endless list of fascinating cars on the road made me more inclined towards exploring it. That was also the time when electric cars were making their way into the streets of Dubai. Witnessing the increasing use of electronics in modern vehicles, the idea of designing and developing my own vehicle came to my mind and became my goal.
The global automobile industry is in the quest for automotive engineers, which meant that for reaching my goal I had to acquire a higher degree in automotive technology. The first step towards that was choosing the right course. The Automotive Systems Engineering programme at Loughborough University, U.K., focuses on the systems approach to vehicle design and integration of the various systems. With vehicles becoming increasingly complex, integration of the various systems is one of the major challenges especially with increased 'electrification' of vehicles and their sub-systems and this area is well covered by the course.
Unexpected bonusBeing a part of Loughborough University and studying here in a new environment wasn’t a tough task for me. Having lived in different places before, I was able to adapt quickly to the way of life here. The course has been structured in such a way that we can concentrate on one module, work on the course work assignments and then move on to the next module, often drawing experiences and learning from previous modules and applying them elsewhere. We have with us not only the full-time students but the part-time and short-course students as well who are employed in various R&D teams across different companies. Interacting with them comes as a bonus in receiving first-hand real world information. The lectures are delivered by people who are senior figures in their company's development teams and this interaction is extremely useful. Along with lectures, the coursework assignments and laboratory work are of high standard and help test your knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Social cultureLoughborough University is an ideal place for students owing to its quality of life and limitless list of activities. So when I am not scribbling through my assignment pages, I immerse myself in the sports culture followed here. The sporting facilities at the university are top notch, whether it is cricket, football, rugby, basketball, beach volleyball or even indoor sports like badminton and table tennis. This is life inside the walls of the university. The social life of the university is no less with a healthy mix of students from different locations and backgrounds enlivening the city life especially on weekends. The university also has a good mix of facilities both academic and recreational, giving me a great foundation of experience and knowledge to be able to keep up with the changes and advances in the automotive industry.
The writer is currently pursuing M.Sc. in Automotive Systems Engineering at Loughborough University, U.K.
