Student Story

Real-world learning a big attraction

Jared Sim says one of the best things about studying Engineering at Otago Polytechnic is the programme’s focus on industry-relevant, real-world learning.

“Even though I still have a little bit of work to do before I complete my degree, my advice to others contemplating studying Engineering would be to focus on more practical work rather than theoretical lectures.

“It’s what will help you in real life and it’s also what people in industry are really looking for from a graduate.”

Interested in Engineering from a young age, Jared says being able to study and remain close to family in Dunedin was another compelling reason to choose Otago Polytechnic.

And his decision has paid off.

Although he still has to complete one paper and an exam to gain the degree, Jared has secured a job at Dunedin firm United Machinists, which designs and manufactures precision components for a range of aerospace, electronics, automotive, medical and marine applications.

Specialising in Mechatronics Engineering, Jared was offered a job at United Machinists during his first semester of study at Otago Polytechnic.

And he’s still there.

“I work at United Machinists as a Manufacturing Process Engineer. My main job is as the operator and programmer of our coordinate measuring machine,” he explains.

“I’m also working on a ‘flipper/robot’ system at United Machinists. I developed it as part of my final-year project at Otago Polytechnic. The aim is to provide the coordinate measuring machine with ‘lights-out capability’, which basically means it frees up an operator from repetitive, mundane tasks and enables them to do more interesting work.”