Opportunities: A faster road to become an engineer

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Civil engineering is an engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, airports, structures of buildings etc.

It is a highly respected profession and an intricate and interesting subject for those who chose the stream. It's no coincidence that it is one of the two professions that every parent aspires their child to be in Sri-Lanka because the respect and admiration that follow is not something you find so common. I talked to my friend who is on the road to become a civil engineer and how he applied with his O/L results. Here’s his story.

Isitha Uvishka having done his O/Ls in 2016, started working on his A/Ls having chosen the maths stream. A year into it after realising that A/Ls just weren't for him and figuring it's not too late, he began searching for options and opportunities. He was fortunate to have a relative studying in China, who he inquired with about his possibilities to study to be an Engineer there, and was directed to the Henan polytechnic university in Henan because that was one you could apply to with your O/L results. Having gone there in 2018, he is now halfway into the second year of his degree programme in Civil engineering.

He applied to the Henan polytechnic University with his O/L results in 2018. The university had a requirement of 'A' passes for the main subjects such as Maths and science and a 'C' or higher for English if you were thinking to apply to more advanced degrees such as civil engineering. The university allows only two degrees to be done without a foundation them being, International trade and economics and Computer science and technology. He had the necessary results for an advanced opportunity and was selected for the degree on civil engineering. He went to China in May of 2018 where he started off with a compulsory Chinese course that took place until September. His foundation course started afterwards which he was required to take having not completed his A/Ls. It only took a year and afterwards he started on his 4 year civil engineering degree with 2 semesters each year. As of now he is currently on his second year having completed the first semester in January and is enjoying the sweet aroma of winter vacation from Sri-Lanka because of CoVid. He says the degree is somewhat challenging (as an advanced degree would be I guess) and scholarships are given to those who perform exceptionally well. They are not allowed to do part time though which is a China thing i presume.

When I asked him if more people should skip A/Ls and make use of such opportunities, he said it really just depends on the person. But the subject he and I both agree on is the position he is at, which is halfway into the second year of his civil engineering degree, while everyone his age who did A/Ls and even got selected the first time are still waiting to get into university. The goal is the same, but his just happens to be a faster means of getting there and I for one think more should definitely know and follow quicker means of getting to where you want to be. Time just should not be wasted.

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