Recently, Ara Institute of Canterbury hosted students from Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT) Coimbatore, India, for a short course, which led to a remarkable academic and cultural exchange. The students’ experience was enhanced by the exposure to the resources and aids available to them in New Zealand, and the opportunity to interact with faculty and fellow students.
The students received their certificates on 9 February 2023 when the three-week course came to an end. Throughout the course, the students gained valuable insights into the automobile engineering industry in NZ and were able to learn about the latest trends in the field. They also got to use facilities and technologies that they don’t easily get access to, back in India.
Kishore Rangaraj, an assistant professor in Automobile Engineering at KCT who has accompanied the students, shared with us that KCT has had a relationship with Ara for more than five years.
“I first visited Ara in 2017 with six students and since then, my students and I have returned every year. The programme has been very beneficial for the students and helped them settle well into their careers all around the world. The visit involves a three-week block course that the students complete at Ara, NZ, after which they return to India to work on a project that they submit to the Ara faculty. This course is an open elective for all engineering students, and this year’s cohort consists of nine students from mechatronics, two from mechanical engineering, and two from automobile engineering.”
The experience was a fantastic learning opportunity for the students, both academically and culturally. They returned to India with a wealth of knowledge and experiences they will carry throughout their professional careers.
Vidhun CR, one of the visiting students, shared his experience, stating that it was his first overseas travel. As a 3rd-year mechanical engineering student, he loves motorsports. Initially, he was sceptical about what he could learn in three weeks, but his expectations were surpassed.
“I got to visit a gocart racing track. We got to drive the gocarts and after each drive, we had to come back to the pitstop and give our feedback and then modify different parts and then test again.”
The hands-on experience he received was invaluable, as he and his classmates had the opportunity to meet real engineers, explore racetracks, and work on formula cars.
Apart from the academic benefits, the students also enjoyed the Kiwi way of life, which was a refreshing change from their life back in India. They also got to explore the beautiful landscapes of NZ, including Auckland and Queenstown, which allowed them to appreciate the cultural and natural diversity of the country.
Rahul, another student, shared that he also enjoyed his first overseas travel and loved exploring new cultures. He appreciated the friendly nature of New Zealanders and enjoyed the country's natural beauty.
“I love the people of NZ and how everyone is friendly and smiles at each other. I am staying with an elderly lady here, and she is so helpful that I have been calling her mom. I have also become more confident and independent. I had to wash and cook for myself and make coffee myself. The NZ experience has added so much to my personality.”
“We also got to do river rafting, whale watching, and exploring the lovely beaches here. Another highlight was visiting Queenstown, which is such a beautiful little town.”
Graeme Harris, Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering at Ara, expressed his enthusiasm for the programme, which has allowed students to gain hands-on experience and learn about Kiwi engineering and motorsports. He also discussed plans to send students from Ara to India in the future.
Anirudh Singal, the International Marketing Manager at Ara, expressed his happiness at welcoming students from India to the campus and hoped that in the future, students from Ara could also visit India to learn new things. He wished the students well and hoped they gained unique skills and insights during their visit to NZ.
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