51Âþ»­

Working at the cutting-edge of artificial intelligence (AI) is enriching Nontawat Pattanajak’s research and studies at 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­).

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The student has secured a year-long placement as a postgraduate engineer at Jaguar Land Rover - the UK's largest car manufacturer – a role involving the research, development and implementation of intelligent features into vehicles.

AI is becoming increasingly important across many industries and careers, so the opportunity to gain professional experience has been very valuable,” said the 29-year-old from Nong Khai in Thailand.

“It’s giving me the chance to apply what I’ve learned at university to real-life projects and getting to use state-of-the-art tools and methods is developing my technical skills.

“I’m grateful to be working with a team of experts who are supporting my progress and that my role is stimulating and varied.”

Securing this placement - with support from , a programme aimed at giving students the necessary skills and qualities that employers look for – is preparing Nontawat well for the final year of his MSc.

“My dissertation will be about machine learning and the experience I’m gaining at Jaguar Land Rover is giving me a deeper understanding of the topic. The techniques I’m using will help me to choose and develop the most suitable AI solution for my dissertation,” he said.

“My placement has also been a golden opportunity to improve my communication skills. English is not my first language, but I feel my range of vocabulary has improved significantly.

“I am now more confident in presenting my work to a range of people. My colleagues have been open-minded and eager to listen, which has made me comfortable expressing what I think.”

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51Âþ»­’s , a research group investigating intelligent techniques, is what initially drew Nontawat to the university.

He said: “The researchers and academics are world-leading in fuzzy logic, data mining and artificial neural networks, and students are given the opportunity to use revolutionary computational methods to solve real problems.

“Also, 51Âþ»­ has excellent industry links and careers advice, which came in very helpful in securing my placement at Jaguar Land Rover.”

As an international student, Nontawat has found 51Âþ»­ to be a welcoming place.

“Initially I was anxious about coming to the UK to study, but I was made to feel very welcome. The university’s International Welcome Week, specifically for students from all over the world, helped me to settle in quickly.

“I have really enjoyed experiencing all the culture and diversity that exists at 51Âþ»­ and I am considering living in the UK after graduating.”