University of the Highlands and Islands

Calum Macdonald

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BEng (Hons) Energy Engineering

I had been studying History at UHI for a couple year but didn’t find it a right fit for me, I wasn’t committed to the outcomes as much as I needed to be. I took a chance and a change in direction by starting an Engineering degree and quickly found a passion for engineering.

It’s not perfect as things never are but my lecturers have all been passionate, helpful, and encouraging. The classes have been challenging but this has helped me to grow as a person. Covid 19 has also not provided an environment that aided University teaching, but I never felt as though the lecturers weren’t working hard to deliver their best and I’m happy with the support I’ve received.

Do it, take the leap, you won’t lose anything from trying and you stand to gain so much more!

Study with us - BEng (Hons) Energy Engineering

Calum Macdonald was recently awarded a £1000 prize for ‘Best Engineer’ in the UHI Business Awards.

Tell us a little bit more about your award-winning project? The idea is to develop modular vertical farming units to allow people to grow fruit and veg in their own space. The aim is to provide this at an affordable price for people to help reduce their reliance on food grown far away and to help people get back in touch with how food reaches the table.

How have your lecturers supported you? The idea was what I investigated for my 3rd-year project and the lecturer in charge of that class, Dr. Christopher Macleod was enormously helpful, he gave a lot of helpful advice whenever I needed it and without him, I would have struggled a lot more than I did.

What career direction would you like to take/or did take after studying? I hope to enter the Energy industry and work on renewable energy or nuclear and help to decarbonise our grid system.