The ESA scholarship at the University of Strathclyde was established several years ago to remember David Mitchell, who sadly passed away several years ago. David was our Standards and Legislation Director for many years after working within the sealing industry as an accomplished business leader. As the academic year 2023/24 has drawn to a close and the new one begins, we are pleased to share an end-of-year report from our scholarship student, Ms. Ilya Gladkikh, who has successfully completed her second year in the MEng Aero-Mechanical Engineering program.
She is learning how to design aircraft engines, control systems, landing gear, and about the many complex parts that sustain flight.
Many of the aero-related topics, such as aerodynamics and lightweight structures, are of special interest and value to a wide variety of engineering activities outside the field of aeronautics.
Graduates from the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, which is highly rated in the UK, are part of a new breed of engineers who can take on challenges ranging from traditional industries to areas such as new materials, sustainable development, and aerospace.
Ms. Gladkikh’s report highlights a truly rewarding year. We hope you find it inspiring and that it illustrates the profound impact of the generous support provided by all ESA members.
A message of thanks to the donor who funds your scholarship:
I would like to thank you for making this kind gesture and showing your support for me by alleviating some of my financial worries. It means a lot to me that someone is so generous, and your actions have significantly improved my quality of life at university. You have allowed me to prioritise my coursework and to thoroughly enjoy my journey through university. You have provided me with opportunities that I would not otherwise have had access to, and I truly cannot thank you enough.
What difference has the scholarship made to you?
This scholarship has allowed me to live far more comfortably by allowing me to focus on my academic studies and not on the rising cost of living. It has made transportation to and from campus significantly easier and has given me peace of mind when it comes to the prices of accommodation, utilities, academic resources, and food. In addition, I especially appreciate the fact that this scholarship has allowed me to buy a yearly membership to my local gym, which has allowed me to improve both my mental and physical wellbeing.
Over the past year, what achievement are you most proud of?
Over the past year, I have overcome a significant course-related challenge for myself: Engineering Mechanics. The previous year I had struggled with this subject, but I managed to improve my performance significantly, and I hope that I will be able to perform even better this coming year. Out of the many successful laboratory sessions and group projects over the last year, I am most proud of my Electrical Engineering projects. My group and I managed to cohesively work together to successfully implement several complex circuits surrounding AC & DC power and electrical motors, achieving a near-perfect grade.
What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead?
I am very excited to start my third year of studies, in particular Aero-Design 2, because as a team I will take part in the BMFA “University Challenge.” For this, we will spend a semester designing and constructing a small-scale, remote control, functional model airplane. It will be a fantastic opportunity to finally implement the knowledge that I have acquired with your continued support. In addition, I will start learning about Computational Fluid Dynamics of aircraft, which has always been a point of interest for me, as the creation of this field is what led to the modern airplane designs that we have today.
We remain committed to supporting Ms. Ilya as she continues her studies at the University of Strathclyde. Additionally, we are exploring opportunities to extend our support to students at other universities in Central Europe.
Sandy Van den Broeck,
ESG Director, ESA