b'10 Partner News Winter 2022AcademicLaura on a site visit to Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Hiring young engineers: the experience of a placement semester Laura discovered her passion for engineeringUniversity of Edinburghafive year MEngopportunity to go on a placement semester during her high school years, wanting to followin electrical and mechanical engineering.from January 2022. in the footsteps of her dad, a passionateI couldnt choose between the two, electrical engineer who would often teach herso I was happy to see Edinburgh had aIt was the best decision I could have about substations, power lines and electricitycombined degree where I could study thetaken, she said. At first it was stressful generation. As a result, together with herbest of both subjects and develop a broadto send emails and applications, complete deep concern for the planet, she decided tounderstanding from a multidisciplinaryassessments and prepare to attend study engineering at university level so sheperspective, she said.interviews every week while keeping up could improve the world, even if just a little.with all my lectures and coursework, but After taking a course focused on professionalits definitely been worth it. I got a nice Having completed her secondary schooldevelopment in her third year at university,break from my long degree and got to studies in Valencia, Spain, she movedwhich helped her reflect on her career aheadexperience seven months in the real world to Edinburgh to pursue a degree at theand get ready to find a job, she had theof engineering before graduating.'