Year in Industry student tests lifesaving equipment at Survitec
Year in Industry student, Jared Stewart, has been testing lifesaving equipment as part of his placement at Survitec Group.
The Year in Industry programme is designed to prepare students for employment by allowing them to undertake a placement year during their third year of study. The benefits of this include a chance to try out certain career paths, learning about workplace culture, the chance to see academic theory put into practice as well as the opportunity to develop the key skills employers look for.
Survitec is a global leader in survival and safety solutions to the marine, defence, aviation and offshore markets. Jared who is studying BA International Business, secured a place on their ‘student sponsorship programme’ which includes a summer placement at the end of his first year, the placement year he’s currently on and a graduate role after completion of his degree.
Due to the flexibility of his placement Jared has been able to get involved in a wide variety of projects, for example, testing lifesaving equipment to ensure it conforms to safety regulation. During one of these activities he wore an oil rig transit suit that had been exposed to flames (to stimulate a fire or explosion) and was submerged in water to check if the life preserver was still working. This specific type of equipment is worn by fighter jet pilots on the Eurofighter programme as well as any person in oil transit.
Jared has also worked with India-based consultants from one of the world’s most successful technology implementation partners, Tech Mahindra, which has developed Jared’s understanding of a different culture and economy which are topics that are relevant to his degree.
Commenting on his Year in Industry Jared said, “The placement year has undoubtedly changed me mentally. University is amazing for providing you with the building blocks, but there is no preparation that can be adequate in preparing you for the change you will go through. For me, I have learnt a lot about myself, and I can guarantee any prospective placement students will do the same.”