Darren Khauv
3rd-year student, Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering
For Darren Khauv, it was the practical aspects that drew him to AUT’s Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering.
“I’ve chosen to study this programme as I’m an inquisitive and practical person, and have always been fascinated by engineering. AUT is known as a more practical university, with an emphasis on learning skills that I can apply once I start my career, and I liked that the Bachelor of Engineering Technology leans more into the practical application of engineering.
“I’ve enjoyed learning about the different engineering concepts, including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, statics, dynamics, materials and engineering design. All these concepts were presented in a practical context, rather than focusing just on the theory and deriving equations. I’ve always been more of a practical and visual learner, so the practical approach of AUT has significantly helped in boosting my performance, and I’ve been particularly pleased with the grade in each of my courses.”
While he still has another year of his studies to go, Darren already has a good idea what he wants to do after graduation.
“I aspire to enter the field of CAD, ideally in the automotive industry. Designing mechanical moving parts would be incredible. Ultimately, it would be a dream to work in a motorsports team like the Formula 1 or WEC, helping them develop the ultimate race car.”
Supported to thrive
He's enjoyed the support from the lecturers, teaching assistants and other staff, Darren says.
“Because AUT has smaller classrooms, the lecturers and teaching assistants have more one-on-one time with students. As an introverted person, I greatly appreciate the smaller classrooms as the lecturers and teachers are more accessible and supportive.
“For me, two notable AUT staff members have been Dr Reza Enayatollahi and our teaching assistant Jayden, from the course ENME604 Applied Fluid Mechanics. These two have been incredible throughout the entire course. During the lecture and tutorials, Dr Reza has made understanding the concepts easy and explained them in different ways, enabling us to understand better. During the tutorial, Jayden was a helpful tutor, able to explain the concepts clearly and use great analogies.”
Student life has also been a highlight for him.
“I’ve enjoyed the wide range of events that happen on campus, including opportunities to win free goods and the club promos. Two great services I’ve especially enjoyed are the Refuel eatery and the recreation centre at the City Campus. At Refuel, the food tastes great with a good portion size and price. The recreation centre offers a lot of activities, with my favourite being the sim racing in the esports room.”
Advice for other students
Now in the third year of his studies, Darren has some great advice for other students.
“Explore the campus and enter the different buildings, even if none of your classes are in them. I found this to be quite a good method for easing into AUT, plus you’ll find some nice spots to chill and study.”
Don’t overthink, he adds.
“If you’re a shy person like me, try not to overthink too much about others. At the end of the day, we’re all here to learn and better ourselves.”
