Anuka Bulankuame - Sri Lanka Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) graduate, 18 May, 2023
My name is Anuka and I’m currently working as a Structural Engineer at Bornhorst + Ward Consulting Engineers. I joined Bornhorst + Ward as a summer intern at the end of my penultimate year at university and then continued working part-time through my final year. On completion of my degree, I was offered a full-time role in their graduate program. As a structural engineer, I design structures such as industrial buildings and warehouses, hotels and resort developments, high-rise buildings, and special-purpose buildings for educational and healthcare usage. The first project I was involved with from start to finish of the project lifecycle was the design of a new covered handball court for Redlands College which was a very exciting experience. The opportunities and guidance I have been provided with have pushed me to greater heights as an engineer and an individual who seeks excellence at all times.
How it all started
I would like to touch briefly on how I got here – Since I was in high school, I have been interested in applying mathematics to solve problems; hence I pursued a bachelor's degree in engineering. I chose to obtain this degree in Australia for a few reasons; I wanted to get overseas exposure and expand my experience, additionally, being a keen sportsman and cricketer, I knew I would be able to continue playing cricket. Although I applied to a handful of universities, QUT came across as the best in terms of offering both technical and practical learning. Due to my academic and sporting prowess during high school, I was fortunate to obtain a scholarship which was vital in my consideration.
Starting at QUT
Once accepted to the QUT Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program, in my first year, I worked hard in my studies and got involved in many clubs and other volunteering activities. At the end of the year, I was fortunate to be offered a place in the Dean’s Scholars program which was the flagship leadership and development program for high-achieving students of the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science. This was a great opportunity for me since it helped me network with professionals/alumni from the industry and the program offered many professional development opportunities. The program also included a leadership camp during the first year which enabled me to meet other like-minded students in my cohort with similar goals, develop my communication skills, and plan out my short- and long-term goals.
My QUT highlights
Another highlight of my university journey at QUT, was when I had the opportunity to travel on exchange to the University of Kassel in Germany and study environmental engineering for my winter break. This was a wonderful opportunity to experience the culture in another country, meet new people and learn a new language. Volunteering and getting involved with student societies also enabled me to make many friends and pick up different skills. There was a lot of support from the teaching staff who were always there to answer questions which helped immensely with my studies. There were also many support networks for students at QUT, one of which was STIMULATE which was where current students offered their time to help you with any study related questions.
My advice to prospective and current students
If I was to pass on any tips to prospective and current students, the main ones would be to surround yourself with the right people who will push you be the best version of yourself, say yes to all the opportunities that come your way and always believe in yourself and finally, work hard, but don’t forget to also have fun and enjoy your time at university.
