b'20|IET Futures Fund How an IET award supports up-and-comingThe programme took place in the third year of his engineersstudies and entailed two and a half months working Abhijit first heard about IET scholarships through ain the JPLs mission design navigation team in Los UCAS newsletter and thought it would be a greatAngeles, USA.opportunity to make industry connections and gain more exposure to engineering. He felt this wouldThe main focus was on the return of samples from be hugely beneficial, as,up to that point, hed notthe current Mars rover: Perseverance, Abhijit says. I BECAUSE YOUhad much direct industry experience, as is the caseworked on a study looking at what would happen if you for many engineering students. arrived at different points on Mars, and the experience was inspirational, exciting and very rewarding. HAVE THEThe concept of engineering is touched upon atThis opportunity would not have been possible school, but its not a taught subject, therefore students can often feel quite daunted entering thiswithout the funds from my IET scholarship, he POWER TOworld. I think having schemes like the IETs makescontinues. Simply put, theres a lot Ive already got to everything a lot less daunting, as you not onlyexperience that I wouldnt have been able to access receive financial support, but also personal support;without the support financially, or through industrial SUPPORT THEAbhijit is less than a year into his role as afrom sponsors, mentors and the organisation itself,relationships, that have come from my scholarship. he notes.I honestly dont think I would be in my current role propulsion systems engineer at Thales Alenia Spacewithout it. ENGINEERS OFUK, after completing a masters in engineeringHaving these relationships with industry professionals specialising in aerospace and control engineering atallowed me to better navigate this new world, andThales has been supporting theThe University of Cambridge.the internship gave me my first real exposure to the TOMORROW space industry which was hugely important to myIETs scholarship and bursary He cites his IET scholarship as the reason hes in theengineering education and early career.schemes since 2017. These position he finds himself today, thanks to the exposurehave provided us with excellent and development opportunities it provided him. Funding unique career opportunitiesopportunities to engage directly As part of Abhijits IET scholarship he was awarded My IET Diamond Jubilee Scholarship was supported1,000 a year to support his education.with future engineering talent from by Thales, who went into a joint venture withdiverse backgrounds, and we are Leonardo to create the company I now work at.Many scholars use these funds to buy things like avery pleased to have welcomed Through the connections I made with Thales via thecomputer or study aids, or to help cover their livingAbhijit as an employee of the Thales Abhijit Pandits story shows howscholarship, I was able to secure an internship atcosts rather than take on a part-time job. Abhijit, your support can supercharge aThales Alenia Space in my second year of university.however, used the bulk of his financial award toAlenia Space business. We wish him young engineers career. Fundingfund a visiting student research programme atall the very best in his career ahead.and partnerships open doors to newFrom there I was able to pursue my masters projectNASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), something opportunities, industry contacts andalongside some colleagues, and was later offered myhe knows he was very fortunate to be in a positionColin Scouller, guidance.current graduate role, Abhijit explains.to do.UK Head of Engineering Early Careers, Thales.'