Shohail, studying Computer Science with an Industrial Placement Year was one of three students to receive a Sir Ralph Robins Scholarship as part of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Engineering Leaders Scholarships (ELS) programme.
The ELS programme provides support for undergraduates in UK Higher Education Institutions, who display the potential to become leaders and innovators in engineering and who want to become leadership role models for the next generation of engineers.
ELS scholarships help ambitious undergraduates in engineering and related disciplines to undertake an accelerated personal development programme, which will help them to gain the necessary skills to become engineering leaders, soon after graduating.
Successful awardees receive £5,000 to be used over three years, towards career-related personal development activities. They also receive the support of a Royal Academy of Engineering mentor, access to an alumni community of over 300 engineers and dedicated training, event invites and opportunities.
As one of the three recipients of the Ralph Robins Scholarship within the ELS programme, Shohail will also receive an additional £5000 in funding and a placement at Rolls-Royce.
Shohail said: “I still can't quite believe it, but I am sure the scholarship will be a powerful tool to gain new experiences, navigate my future career, and ultimately make a wider positive impact on society.”
As a child, Shohail was always fascinated with AI, and how something as rigid as code and algorithms could be used to mimic something as fluid and expansive as human intelligence. This, combined with the problem-solving nature of programming, led to him pursuing a Computer Science degree at Sheffield.
He added: “For me, the biggest benefit of the scholarship is the Personal Development Plan that we are required to create; a 10-year plan outlining our future goals, how we plan to use the funding, and how it will help us in our careers and personal development. In addition to this are benefits such as funding, an internship, and opportunities for networking. These will respectively aid me by allowing me to pursue my goals, intern at an esteemed company where I can learn and grow in the role, and be part of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering community.”
“I think, for a lot of people, feelings of inadequacy keep them from trying new things and this causes them to miss out on amazing opportunities that they were actually qualified for. It nearly happened to me while researching this scholarship! But thanks to information sessions offered by the Uni, testimonials from past winners and the invaluable help and assistance offered by Liz Taylor, her former student and ELS-awardee Sam Rhodes, and Emily Clark, I went for it, and am so glad I did.
“My advice to anyone would be to take the leap, because there's nothing to lose and everything to gain. From personal experience, I can tell you that as long as you try your hardest, be consistent, and have the right people by you, your effort will not go unrewarded.”
We look forward to hearing more from Shohail as he progresses in the ELS programme and undertakes his Rolls-Royce internship.