Sarah McSwiney’s feedback about RIIERP

RIIERP Placement: EADS Space Transportation
2003: Friedrichshafen, Germany

I had a six-month work experience position arranged for my RIIERP placement in 2003 when I was studying Aerospace Engineering at RMIT. I worked in a principally practical role, helping with laboratory experiments on a prototype of a life support system for the International Space Station (ISS).

At the end of my placement I arranged a thesis project at the same company and spent five months designing the heating and cooling systems for a magnetic fluids experiment on board the International Space Station.

I am presently working at Hawker de Havilland, a Boeing company, as a design engineer on the 787 Dreamliner project and very much enjoying it.

The RIIERP program was of huge benefit to me, and I believe it had a big part in my success in my search for work after graduation. I was offered jobs at both HdH and GKN Aerospace, the two aerospace firms I applied to. I believe completing my thesis overseas was far more practical and educational than completing it at home at university. The experience and the confidence I gained in myself as an engineer whilst overseas was the best thing my time at RMIT gave me.

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