When Zofia Korczak moved to Aberdeen to study it was with fashion management in mind – it did not take her long to see the opportunities a very different career in the oil industry could offer.
Now Zofia, 22, has just completed her third year studying mechanical engineering at Robert Gordon University’s School of Engineering and is about to start a 12-week summer placement at Inverurie-based artificial lift technology development firm Zenith Oilfield Technology.
“I’ve always enjoyed fashion but when I came to Aberdeen I realised the potential a degree in engineering brings and luckily my school marks were good enough for me to transfer courses,” she said.
“An eye for design and an understanding why things work the way they do is essential in both industries. I’ve been able to take those skills across from fashion to engineering which offers me a unique perspective.”
“I’m focusing on my course at RGU and hope to graduate with a first-class masters degree in mechanical and offshore engineering next year.”
Her scholarship at Zenith will help her reach her next goal of becoming a Chartered Engineer.
Zenith’s scholarship scheme, in its second year, was started to attract the students at RGU for industry placements at the company’s Inverurie headquarters with a view to employing them as trainee engineers after they graduate.
This year, the company has taken on four students as part of the £10,000 program. This will see Zofia joined by fellow student Kenneth Wright as well as returning students Magnus Barclay and George Arsu, who completed summer placements last year.
Zenith has 80 employees working in 30 countries and was bought by Lufkin Industries earlier this year.