Ali Karami

Why did you chose City St George's?

I chose City St George's because it is a highly prestigious university, and it is ranked highly in the UK. It is also located in central London, which gives students plenty of chances to explore culture, professional settings, and make connections.

Additionally, there are highly rated and specialised lecturers at City St George's. City St George's is recognised for its solid standing across a range of engineering. It provides a variety of specialized courses designed for Civil Engineering Structures like Finite Element Analysis, Advanced analysis and stability of structures.

The university frequently builds strong connections with industries and businesses, giving students real-world experiences and chances for jobs. Especially for civil engineers it is located near Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

What does a typical week at university look like for you?

I attend lectures where they teach about various theoretical concepts, principles, and methodologies related to the civil engineering structural field. These lectures cover topics such as analysis and design of structures. A significant portion of my time is dedicated to design projects.

These projects involve applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, designing structures, analysing systems, and proposing solutions to engineering problems. My part-time job is related to Civil Engineering.

In my free time, I inspect lighting columns' structural condition (corrosion, stability etc) in the Westminster zone of London on a weekly basis as my part-time job. It helps me to build strong background for my future career

What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?

I have learnt about dynamic loads, resonance phenomena, and vibration analysis in structures. They study techniques for mitigating the effects of dynamic forces and ensuring structural stability and comfort at dynamics of structures course.

I have also learnt the theoretical foundations of finite element analysis, including concepts like variational methods, shape functions, element formulation, and assembly procedures. I have achieved the skill that how these principles are applied to solve engineering problems.

On design of steel and composite structures, I have learnt about the design and detailing of connections between steel members. This includes bolted connections, welded connections, and other types of structural connections critical for the integrity and stability of the overall structure.

What services within your School or the University have you used during your studies?

I have used Academic skills Team, English for academic purpose. It focuses on developing students' writing skills for academic purposes. This includes understanding academic writing conventions, structuring essays and research papers, synthesizing information from sources, and citing references accurately.

What are your career plans and how has City St George's prepared you for them?

City St George's has provided opportunities for me to gain hands-on experience through design projects, and practical workshops. I have learnt how to apply theoretical concepts to real-world engineering problems, conduct experiments, and use industry-standard software tools for structural analysis and design.

Progress in my career by taking on increasing levels of responsibility, leadership roles, and project management opportunities. Seek out mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals to navigate career challenges and opportunities.

Build a strong professional network by actively participating in professional organizations like Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). I have an access to IStructE student membership as a student at City St George's.

If you could do any job related to your subject in the world, what would it be and why?

I aspire to be a Structural Engineer. I am drawn to the field of structural engineering due to a genuine interest and passion for problem-solving, innovation, and the application of scientific principles to real-world challenges. Structural engineers have a fascination with buildings, bridges, and other structures.

They enjoy the process of conceptualizing, designing, and constructing safe, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing infrastructure that serves society. Structural engineers play a critical role in ensuring the safety, functionality, and sustainability of the built environment.

They have a strong sense of responsibility and take pride in their contributions to society through the design and construction of infrastructure that improves people's lives.