March 2, 2021

UOW engineering student a finalist in annual GradConnection Top 100 Awards

Pranjal Choudhury named among nation’s top future leaders

An international student who relocated to Australia to study at the University of Wollongong (UOW) has been recognised among the nation’s brightest young minds in the annual GradConnection 2021 Top100 Future Leaders.

Pranjal Choudhury, who is undertaking a Master of Engineering, majoring in Management, was named a finalist in the category of BP Commercial Award. 

The GradConnection Top 100 Future Leader award ceremony was held in Sydney on 11 February. The full list of winners and finalists was published in the Australian Financial Review.

Pranjal, a trained electrical engineer, came to Australia from India to study his Masters in 2019 after hearing about UOW’s reputation among its international alumni network.

“I was drawn to the world-class education system, a platform of opportunities towards personal growth in terms of employability, the multi-cultural society, and the world’s most beautiful destinations,” Pranjal said. 

“I was in touch with a few UOW alumni regarding how they have excelled in their career after graduation. UOW has a strong connection with local industry and the volunteering culture had a significant impact, as it enabled me to enhance my employability skills and demonstrate my willpower to assimilate with Australian culture.”

Since beginning his degree, Pranjal has become embedded in the UOW community. He is an International Student Ambassador and an International Student Mentor, and has also taken part in the Univative, a collaborative, student-leg program that aims to create connections with local business and build employability skills.

Pranjal has loved being taking part in every opportunity that has come his way. He said being recognised in the GradConnection was an incredible honour as he begins his final semester at UOW.

“I was overwhelmed with gratitude to have been selected as a finalist in the BP Commercial Award,” Pranjal said. “I was so honoured that my work has been recognised by British Petroleum, Chandler Macleod and GradConnection. It was an amazing experience to be featured in the Australian Financial Review.

“Ultimately, what it comes down to is my determination to overcome hurdles and to do things out of the box. The UOW Careers Central team have been so supportive and have always helped to guide me during times of need, despite several challenges in 2020.

“The challenges that I faced last year due to the pandemic have motivated me to do different things that will open many doors of opportunity.”

Professor Theo Farrell, UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), congratulated Pranjal on being named a finalist in the awards and said it was recognition of his hard work and determination.

“It is a wonderful achievement to be recognised in these coveted awards,” Professor Farrell said. “Pranjal has demonstrated his resilience and his strength, as he continues to grow his skills, improve his employability, and most importantly, give back to the community as a volunteer.

“This past year has been challenging for all, but particularly for international students, so I am even more delighted to see one of UOW’s outstanding international students receive the recognition he deserves. 

“It is the start of many wonderful things to come for Pranjal and reflects UOW’s focus on producing career-ready graduates who are highly valued by employers.” 

Pranjal said his success is not an individual effort, but rather helped by his strong support network, including his family and his partner. 

“This accomplishment is not something I achieved alone, and there are many others who deserve to share this award.

“I would like to thank my beloved partner who supported me during the tough times, and I am also deeply grateful for the love and care of my parents and family.

“I would also like to thank my current employer, Asplundh Wollongong, with whom I am currently doing an internship. They are helping me in my continuous development with my new skill sets.

“And I would like to thank the Careers Central team at UOW, for their tireless efforts in providing me with career support and enhancing my employability during the journey.”