The sixteenth (16th) Session of the “INSPIRE” Webinar Series, which the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies organized to guide engineering undergraduates on the topic “The Bigger the Dream, the Better the Story,” was successfully held via Zoom on 11th January 2025 from 7.00 PM to 8.30 PM with the active participation of undergraduates of the faculty. The resource person, Eng. (Ms). Kavini Nimthara Induwara, is a lead program integration engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, UK. She is a Si Lankan engineering professional residing in United Kingdom. Ms. Kavini graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering Honors degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Sheffield in 2023. Her outstanding undergraduate project, which focused on developing an actively stabilizing model rocket, became a pivotal achievement, securing her a position at Jaguar Land Rover immediately after graduation as a Cross-Domain Feature Engineer. Her exceptional performance in this role earned her a promotion to Lead Program Integration Engineer in less than a year, — a testament to her dedication and skill.
During the webinar, she shared valuable life experiences and professional lessons to guide engineering undergraduates on how to make the most of their undergraduate years. She emphasized the importance of gaining hands-on experience and acquiring comprehensive knowledge in their field of work. She highlighted that by investing time and effort, one can achieve significant outcomes. She also provided a detailed explanation of her stabilizing model rocket project, discussing the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. This part of the session was particularly inspiring. Additionally, she stressed the importance of building a personal brand through platforms like LinkedIn, noting that it can help students find opportunities more easily. In this competitive field, she advised students to develop essential skills such as public speaking, communication, negotiation, and networking, as these are crucial when pursuing one’s passion. She also underscored the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, reminding students to prioritize self-care, cherish their loved ones, and appreciate the support of those who believe in them. Furthermore, she encouraged students to consider starting their own ventures, emphasizing the value of creating opportunities for themselves. She concluded by stating that success requires creating one’s own luck. Overall, the webinar was a productive and insightful session for the students, providing them with valuable lessons from a young engineer working at a world-leading automobile manufacturer to help them drive their professional journeys toward success.
The webinar was made possible by the efforts of six talented second-year engineering undergraduates, who played key roles in organizing and ensuring its success.
Moderator: Sithumika Jayasiri & Irasha Senarathna
Zoom Masters: Thanujaya Tennekoon
Flyer Designs: Maleesha Shimal
Content Writer: Irushi Sewmini
PR Manager: Anupama Thilina
