Hundreds of final-year Engineering students of The University of the South Pacific (USP) showcased their capstone projects to portray their skills and knowledge gained during their academic journey at the institution.
The Final Year Engineering Projects Day consisted of students from the disciplines of Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Engineering from the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics (STEMP).
Iva Hotchin was one of the students who presented her project on the different types of geomagnetic web-joints fabricated using recycled materials.
“After much thought and given that waste management is a key issue we face here in Fiji, I decided to undertake this project with my partner and see how we could utilise recycled plastics to produce these items,” she shared.
Hotchin also explained why women should take up jobs in the industrial world.
“Diversity drives innovation because when women are included in industries like engineering, manufacturing, and technology they can also bring fresh and new perspectives to the table.” she said.
“So this isn’t just about getting more women into certain jobs but it’s about building a better and more innovative world for everyone. This project underscored the importance of recycling and being innovative with using available materials to produce other essential and sustainable products.”
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia said the day served as an opportunity to inspire students, celebrate success, showcase innovative projects, and foster collaboration between academia and industry.
It also highlighted the critical role engineers play in solving regional challenges and underscored USP’s commitment to producing skilled professionals equipped to drive sustainable progress in the Pacific region.
STEMP Associate Professor, Dr Utkal Mehta added that the students were encouraged to research and understand real-time issues faced by industries and communities and seek innovative solutions.
“Our students begin work on their projects from the beginning of the year and the Engineering Projects Day allows them to display the final outcomes of their projects. We train our students to not only understand the problem but to provide solutions to the problem,” he said.
“The students seek to final local solutions to local problems, and this is also aligned to industry needs and requirements as we are able to highlight ways in which we can enhance the resilience and efficiency of our nation’s infrastructure.”
“These soon-to-be graduates showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills, teamwork and project management, industry awareness and use of new and emerging technologies.”
Dr Mehta said the capstone projects bridged the gap between academia and industry and prepared students for their future careers.
The engineering projects demonstrate the quality of the models developed by students and the support provided by staff teaching in accredited professional degree programmes.
USP’s head of mechanical and civil engineering, Dr Sumesh Narayan commended the students for their commitment, noting, that their projects demonstrates how education and innovation can intersect to tackle real-world issues in the Pacific.
“We are immensely proud of their achievements and we are very optimistic about the future these young engineers will shape.” he added.
In addition to sharing their technical expertise, students gained valuable feedback and made connections with potential industrial partners by fostering collaborations that could bring ideas to fruition.
The showcase reinforced USP’s commitment to advancing sustainable development in the Pacific, inspiring students to continue innovating for their communities.
Students interested in studying Engineering at USP can Apply Now for Semester 1, 2025 studies via www.usp.ac.fj/apply
Visit our website at www.usp.ac.fj to browse through our diverse programme offerings and upskilling opportunities.
