Prasanth Moorthy
Intermediate Database Developer, Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga
Master of Engineering Project Management
The Master of Engineering Project Management was the logical next step for his career, says Prasanth Moorthy who came to AUT as an international student from India.
“I came from a technical background as a cloud and data engineer, and while I enjoyed the technical side of my work, I found myself drawn to understanding how projects are planned, delivered and managed at a broader level, not just the technical execution. I chose the Master of Engineering Project Management specifically because it let me build project delivery, leadership and stakeholder management skills, which I felt would make me a stronger, more well-rounded professional overall. AUT stood out for its practical, industry-connected approach to the programme.
“I appreciated that the programme included coursework in project planning, risk management, stakeholder communication and practical tools like MS Project. I also completed a virtual project management internship with infrastructure consulting firm WSP as part of my studies, which gave me hands-on experience supporting project planning, scheduling and stakeholder reporting in a simulated enterprise environment. These experiences helped me understand how project delivery actually works in practice, not just in theory.”
While he was at AUT, Prasanth also chose to complete the Beyond AUT Award and considers this another highlight of his university experience.
“The Beyond AUT Award was a genuine highlight as it gave me the opportunity to build leadership and volunteering experience alongside my studies. Through it, I got involved in environmental volunteering, including planting at Motutapu Island, which became something I genuinely fell in love with. I went back a second time, and seeing the plants I'd helped plant actually growing was a really meaningful moment for me. Munaal Abdali from AUT's Employability and Careers team was a huge support throughout my time at AUT. She helped guide me through the Beyond Award, and I still remember her coming to encourage me right before a final job interview – that kind of genuine support made a real difference to my confidence.”
Studying in New Zealand
For Prasanth, coming to Auckland and New Zealand for his studies has proved to be the right decision.
“I really enjoyed the balance New Zealand offers between study and life. Auckland gave me access to a genuinely diverse, welcoming community while I studied, and the outdoors here became a big part of how I unwound outside of coursework, either going hiking or to the coastline. Moving here to study also meant building a completely new life from scratch, and that experience of adapting and growing independently is something I'll always value.”
He has some great advice for other students.
“Don't assume your degree has to lead in a straight line. My master’s degree was in project management, but it strengthened skills that made me a stronger candidate for a technical role too. The combination ended up being a genuine asset, not a detour. Take advantage of programmes like the Beyond AUT Award – the volunteering and leadership experience I gained through it shaped both my confidence and my sense of connection to New Zealand.”
Supporting people’s healthcare outcomes
After graduating from AUT at the end of 2025, Prasanth now enjoys working at Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga, the New Zealand government agency that decides which medicines, vaccines and medical devices are publicly funded.
“I really enjoy that the work has a genuine purpose. Pharmac decides which medicines get funded for New Zealanders, and the data work I do directly supports that decision-making process. Even in my first few weeks, I was already working on real data pipelines that matter to people's actual healthcare outcomes, which feels meaningful in a way that goes beyond just the technical work itself. I'm also enjoying the chance to build real depth in SQL Server and the Microsoft data stack, supported by a genuinely patient and knowledgeable team.”
He says his time at AUT prepared him well for his career now.
“Interestingly, my current role is technical rather than a direct continuation of my master’s degree, but AUT prepared me for it in ways I didn't fully expect. The project management, communication and stakeholder skills I built have genuinely complemented my technical work. I didn't anticipate how valuable that combination would be, and I’m now able to deliver technical work while also understanding how to manage and communicate around a project properly, especially when picking up new systems and processes quickly.”
