Designing a future in civil engineering

Civil engineer Prateek Shrestha shares how practical learning and industry opportunities at Victoria University (VU) kicked off his career at Transurban.

“After finishing year 12 back home in Nepal, I came to Australia to pursue higher education.

“I chose the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Engineering) at VU because of the hands-on learning, industry connections, range of engineering programs, and the professional accreditation by Engineers Australia.

“Civil engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the infrastructure that forms the foundation of modern society, including buildings, roads, bridges, and water systems.

“Becoming part of a legacy that the people will be utilising for the next 100 years, and making a positive difference with the infrastructure we civil engineers are responsible for, is inspiring to me.”

Building a strong foundation

“One of the best parts of studying at VU was the course structure. We were exposed to almost all streams of civil engineering – encompassing structural designs, materials knowledge, hydro mechanics, geotechnical engineering, project management, road and urban design and traffic.

“The Bachelor of Engineering is also structured so that students from all disciplines of engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical and electronic and architectural) study the fundamentals of engineering together.

"This means that you're exposed to different study areas and can make an educated decision on your career path.”

Learning to solve real-world problems

“VU places a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning. We had access to state-of-the-art laboratories and workshops where we could apply our theoretical knowledge to real-world problems.

“For example, for one project we were required to design an on-ramp for a section of the West Gate Tunnel Project, using information provided by Transurban and considering the existing infrastructure, elevation of the new ramp, cost consideration, flooding and intersection layout.

“At the end, we had the opportunity to present our designs to a panel of judges from Transurban and got to compare the approved design against what we had developed.”

Internships that open doors

“VU has strong connections with industry partners, which means that engineering students have access to industry placements, internships and networking opportunities.

“In my final year, I took part in the internship program for the West Gate Tunnel Project at Transurban, which really helped me build a bridge between my university and industry experience.

“I was fortunate to work alongside experienced professionals, gaining valuable insights and knowledge about the industry, as well as developing practical and stakeholder-management skills.

“I had opportunities to go out on site and witness the design drawings and plans coming to life, and was invited to meetings and discussions with external stakeholders for design-related queries. This allowed me to build a network with people from different backgrounds.”

Engineering a bright future at Transurban

“At the end of my internship, I was offered a permanent job as a graduate engineer in the design team at Transurban.

“I think the team appreciated the effort I put into work during my internship, and were happy for me to be part of the team and further sharpen my professional skills in the engineering industry.

“Starting fresh from university, I have been fortunate to be part of a significant infrastructure project that will shape the future development of the western suburbs of Melbourne.

“The highlight of my day-to-day is learning new components of structure/civil design from the project, and getting these insights from the experienced team members. 

“The most important short-term goal for me is to soak in the experience the West Gate Tunnel Project has to offer in my journey as a graduate engineer, and always be open for opportunities at the completion of the project.”

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