An aerospace engineering background might seem an unlikely fit at an energy company. But during his Overseas Integrated Work Study Programme (OIWSP) at Siemens Energy in Sweden, Nikhel Khanna demonstrated how his strong engineering fundamentals developed through applied learning at SIT prepared him to solve challenges beyond the aviation industry.

As part of SIT’s Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering programme, students undergo a mandatory eight-month Integrated Work Study Programme. For final-year student Nikhel Khanna who was keen to gain overseas exposure, that meant reaching out to a contact in Siemens Energy in Stockholm, Sweden, to check if they had any IWSP opportunities available for him.  

“My contact responded very positively and said, ‘Sure, we’ll help you find something’. So, I sent in my resume, we did the interview, and I managed to get it,” he recalled.  

As Siemens was not technically classified as an aerospace company, Nikhel says that he had to demonstrate how his aerospace engineering knowledge could be applied to Siemens Energy’s power generation applications. “Once I was able to do that, SIT was very supportive and worked with me through every step of the application process.”  

Applying Engineering Fundamentals in the Real World

Nikhel shares that one of the most fulfilling aspects of his overseas IWSP (OIWSP) was seeing how the engineering principles he learnt at SIT were applied in a completely different industry. He says that while SIT grounded him well in the technical aspects behind gas turbines, OIWSP exposed him to the commercial realities of the working world.  

“One of the areas that I worked on at Siemens Energy was at the Front-End Engineering & Design (FEED) department. Here, it became clear to me that the ultimate goal for most companies is to make money. It was truly eye-opening to see my technical knowledge being used towards designing more cost-efficient power plants for customers, to help them achieve their bottom-line goals.”  

During the latter part of Nikhel’s attachment, he was given the opportunity to join Siemens Energy's Research & Development (R&D) department, where he worked on ammonia combustion research for next-generation gas turbine technologies. His work involved Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations using Siemens’ simulation software, STAR-CCM+, to investigate combustion behaviour, flow characteristics, and performance within experimental combustor configurations.  

“This experience exposed me to advanced engineering methodologies and sustainable energy research, while allowing me to apply concepts from thermofluids, aerodynamics, numerical methods, and simulation that I had previously learnt at SIT.”

The opportunity also gave Nikhel a rare chance to experience two very different sides of engineering, providing him with a more holistic understanding of the profession.

“While FEED focused on developing practical and commercially viable solutions for customers, R&D challenged me to investigate complex technical problems and contribute to the development of future energy technologies,” shared Nikhel.

Another way that Nikhel was able to apply the learnings from SIT to his work attachment was through simulation tools. “At SIT, we were taught how to use programmes such as MATLAB and Abaqus to simulate computational flow dynamics and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modelling. So, when it came to using similar software at Siemens, it was quite easy for me to pick it up. ”

Building a Flexible and Globalised Mindset

Beyond gaining technical insights, a highlight for Nikhel during his OIWSP was being able to experience different cultures and working styles. By working with customers from countries such as Singapore, Japan, Azerbaijan, and Greece, he observed firsthand the nuances of various work cultures.  

"For Asian countries, we share similar values, especially in terms of how we prioritise speed and efficiency. The Swedes, however, work a little differently. They never rush through work. So, even though they may take a week to do it, they ensure that they get it right the first time.”  

His OIWSP also took him beyond Sweden. During a customer visit to Trieste, Italy, Nikhel observed another important aspect of working internationally: building relationships before business; it can be considered rude to jump straight into shop talk.  

“Normally, they will spend the first five to 10 minutes just having a chit chat before getting down to business. This was something interesting to observe.”  

Experience Beyond the Workplace  

What was supposed to be an eight-month OIWSP for Nikhel, turned out to be a year away. This was due to an approved extension to do his final year capstone project with Siemens Energy. Looking back over the past year, Nikhel is deeply appreciative of the opportunities he’s been given to prepare for the next stage of life.  

He believes that all work attachments, even those done locally, can be hugely enriching experiences. “The IWSP gives us a clearer understanding of what it means to be in the industry today and gives us a taste of what it’s like to face and overcome open-ended problems. Completing this work attachment has definitely given me greater confidence that I can adapt and contribute to the next company I work in.”  

Nikhel’s overseas IWSP experience also pushed him beyond the workplace. “Living and working in Sweden alone, I had to learn to be more independent, build new networks and adjust to a different lifestyle and culture, all while managing my work.

I think you definitely need some level of resilience when you do an overseas IWSP, especially in the first few months when you are still adapting to a completely new environment. But this is also part of what makes the experience so valuable – your learning extends beyond your time at work.”