Beth Shao, Class of 2024, MSc in Rail, Transport and Logistics
Beth was just getting started.
Despite scoring a historic grade point average unprecedented in TUM Asia for her master’s and experiencing more than seven illustrious internship stints, she is not about to rest on her laurels.
“The career trajectory in Canada is rather unique; you have to accumulate several years of experience before being certified as a full-fledged engineer. It’s like a badge of honour that all engineering apprentices would have earned before they are recognised as one, explained Beth.
And she is doing everything it takes to earn that badge.
Underpinning her perseverance to achieve so lies her indomitable belief that her contribution can only strengthen her community’s efforts.
In contrast to many countries, the transportation system in Canada is a shared responsibility among the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of the government, relying on the close cooperation of all partners, including the private sector, to uphold the transport system’s efficiency, sustainability and safety. The unique configuration of Canada’s transport system and the technical expertise that Beth possesses places her essentially working for private operators to ensure the operational efficiency of the transport system,
However, her latest internship stint put her squarely with the municipal government, where she sits on the other side of the fence managing the private operators to uphold the operational efficiency of the transport system. Her latest stint not only opened up her horizons in managing transport systems through a different lens, it also enabled her to develop critical skills such as problem-solving, communication, leadership and analytical thinking.
“I did my internship in a private transportation company called Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario that focuses on improving the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. In contrast to my previous internship roles, which were more technical and design-based, the internship was more of a project manager role. It allowed me to see how projects are done from the public sector’s perspective, which was fascinating.” Beth explained.
Her past internship experiences with private companies gave her a glimpse into the rigours of managing transportation systems at the operational level. Her recent stint, however, gave her an insider’s view of the actual work and magnitude involved in managing the transport at the municipal level. If anything, it deepened her sense of purpose to be an engineer to uphold the hallmarks of an efficient and sustainable transport system.
“Right now, my goal is to build upon my experience and knowledge to become a fully certified engineer,” Beth said.
“Right now, my goal is to build upon my experience and knowledge to become a fully certified engineer,” Beth said.