Sweta Nemani has received a scholarship from the ITACET Foundation to follow the Specialized Master's in Tunnelling and Tunnel Boring Machines at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy (2018 -2019)

Here she tells us what spurred her to enrol on the course and her first impressions:

"For those working on projects that are beneath our feet, work is never boring because an engineer working with underground structures or systems has the most challenging element to deal with, i.e. ‘the ground’. In my six years of career as a Geotechnical Engineer, underground excavations, design of retention systems and metro/ transport projects were my go to options.  With my past experience I wanted to expand my technical knowledge in Tunnelling and put my best efforts to push my career to the next level. My ambition to study the advanced Master’s in Italy stemmed from a dearth of equivalent professional programs offered in my country, and was further reinforced when I realised the contribution of the course’s faculty and alumni to this industry. The subjects offered in this program were particularly in line with my professional goals. I believed my decision to follow my passion to study and specialize further would yield me good results. I am glad to have received support from the ITACET scholarship which has made my endeavour smoother.

The Master’s course is a 2^nd Level Advanced Master’s in Tunnelling and Tunnel Boring Machines specially designed to prepare students with a background in civil or mining engineering or engineering geology for a career in Tunnelling. The course was developed in Politecnico di Torino more than twenty years ago and is the first recognized by the International Tunnelling Association and thus stands as a reference course. The lectures are rendered by Professors from various Universities, professionals and specialists from the real world and experienced consulting engineers. The course schedule covers lectures in different aspects of a tunnel project for example geological investigations, construction methods, machines and excavation equipment, design and analysis, contractual aspects, risk assessment and management; including case studies for each aspect, training in the essential software required for design and analysis and class assignments of real cast studies. The end of the theoretical lectures is followed by on-site visits to various on-going tunnelling projects further followed by an individual internship.

The Master’s kicked-off with a warm, welcoming and informative opening ceremony. The students are from diverse cultures and different countries with varied experiences, thus opening a platform to learn and exchange ideas, knowledge and culture. This for me is the highlight of the course where a network and harmony amongst young upcoming engineers and the specialists and stalwarts in the industry is built. With almost two months into the course, I feel very happy and satisfied with my decision to have joined the Master’s while I am eager and enthusiastic about what is to come".

Many thanks to Sweta for this feedback. The ITACET Foundation wishes her a long and fruitful career in tunnelling!

 The class after the lecture on NATM by Prof Dr Galler from Montanuniversität Leoben