Industry based Scholarships Student Testimonials

Summer and Research Placement Project Scholarship 2007-8

Sponsor: Atlassian
Student Name: Made Mastika

I started in mid-December and did full time work experience throughout the summer holidays and two days a week during first semester. I was in the JIRA team, working with their developer on a plug-in for the Bamboo continuous integration web software.

I learnt first hand the agile methodology in software development, code review and pair programming. As well, I learnt the advantages of this methodology and of continuous integration.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience where I learnt real world stuff.

Major Industrial Placement Project Scholarship 2007

Sponsor: BHP Billiton (Newcastle Technology Centre, Newcastle)
Student Name: Glen Hadiardja

I worked under the sponsor of BHP Billiton with three other students for the duration of MIPPS, and was relocated to the company’s Newcastle Technology Centre (NTC) facility. Luck of the draw landed me with Dr Jaidev Prasad as my project supervisor – a warm, sociable yet extremely driven RMIT graduate, who was deservedly promoted to senior engineer during the 6 months I spent at NTC.

I was consequently assigned to a project which revolved around a proprietary metal processing technology under development by the researchers on site.

The scope of my work focused on examining rheological issues involved in the purification stage of the process. After a series of experimental and engineering design works, I was able to recommend a refined set of operating windows, preliminary assessment of reactor size and type, as well as evaluation of agitator design.

My involvement in MIPPS has yielded invaluable client relations, project management and self-motivation skills. In addition, the exposure I received from the industry had strengthened my technical knowledge, health and safety awareness, as well as formed networks and bonds with professionals.