Alumni Updates Scholarship Recipient Travels to Malaysia and Beyond

Since leaving Loreto, Claire Demuth (Class of 2018) has ventured across the globe. While in high school, Claire wasn’t sure of her pathway post-Loreto, but trying her best and studying hard to provide options was important.

From attending a Change of Preference Day, Claire discovered an Engineering degree best aligned with her interests. Claire is now in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design) at Swinburne University.

‘I love how in Engineering we can design things that can change the world. We can have an impact on climate action and societal issues. As an engineer, you can contribute to society by helping develop infrastructure and products that improve people’s lives. It is a challenging but rewarding field where I can solve problems and be creative. There are so many great opportunities in this space for travelling and working in other countries as well as for women.’

In 2022, Claire was awarded the prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship. Initiated by the Australian Government, this program aims to increase the knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region, where they support undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region. The scholarship has seen Claire attend the New Colombo Plan National Summit in Canberra and participate in a Kakadu study tour.

‘I was lucky to travel to Kakadu on a study tour which aims to grow the understanding of the nature and contemporary expression of the enduring relationship between Australian Indigenous people, their cultures, and the environment. We camped, hiked and met with locals who were able to share their stories, experiences, and knowledge with us.’

When Claire found out she had received the New Columbo Plan Scholarship, she was excited to experience new cultures in the region.

‘I knew I wanted to take full advantage of this opportunity and push myself outside my comfort zone.’

The first component of the scholarship saw Claire study for a semester in the Mechanical Engineering Faculty at the University of Technology in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

‘I was able to grow as a person and gain a new perspective on how people live. I learned so much from my peers and I was able to have deep conversations about our differences in values, beliefs, and lifestyles.’

In the second component, Claire has begun interning with Tata Consulting Services (TCS), a global Indian conglomerate that expands across various businesses including aviation, steel, power, chemicals, renewable energy and information technology.

‘I have been in Sydney for a month where I have commenced my internship with TCS. We are working with Westpac on projects around Green IT and innovation within the FinTech space. This is an exciting field to be involved in, as technology continues progressing and plays an important role in our everyday lives. Next, I am heading to Mumbai for a three-month internship where I will continue creating proposals and assist in conducting tests for the projects.’

Claire doesn’t shy away from the fact that Engineering can be challenging, but advises students to, ‘not get disheartened when it gets hard or difficult, because everyone experiences it. It is also not always about top marks, as having experience and understanding people is paramount to being a good engineer. I would recommend doing internships and work experience early on, as industry exposure will lead you to the next opportunity.’

Claire plans to study abroad later this year where she will head off to Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland. Claire would be delighted to talk to students who are interested in learning more about her university experience. Please feel free to contact us at development@loreto.vic.edu.au where we can put you in touch.