Gareth Schieving
Underground Communication Technician, OceanaGold Corporation
Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Network and Communication Engineering
When Gareth Schieving came to AUT from the Royal New Zealand Airforce to study engineering, little did he know that he would gain much more than a degree; he would also discover a new passion.
“I chose to study the Bachelor of Engineering Technology because it aligned closely with my previous employment as a communication and information systems technician within the Royal New Zealand Airforce.
“I never realised that I had a passion for programming until I attended my first engineering programming class. Learning all the jargon associated with the C programming language was challenging at the start, but over the course of the semester I went from knowing nothing about C programming to writing my own code to achieve a wide range of results. The lightbulb moment for me was realising that I was not only capable of learning this new information, but that I had found a passion for something new and exciting.”
He appreciated how his studies complemented his skills from his airforce career.
“The AUT course material allowed me to supplement my existing technical skills. AUT provided an exceptional balance of theory through lectures, and hands-on consolidation through labs and various projects where we could apply those skills. Learning new skills and putting them into practice was a significant highlight during my time at AUT.”
Applying his broad set of knowledge
The flexibility to choose different courses during his engineering degree allowed him to diversify his knowledge, says Gareth who now works for multinational mining company OceanaGold Corporation.
“With a wide range of communications tasks within our mine site, and few technical staff, it’s critical to have a broad knowledge and skillset. Understanding how information is passed over various mediums has enabled me to develop an effective and efficient network environment.”
He enjoys developing solutions to meet the diverse needs of the mining industry’s different environments.
“My primary role is to support underground mining operations by planning, configuring and installing network and digital infrastructure within a range of industrial mining environments. I find it rewarding to enable large mining vehicles to operate autonomously within the underground environment via the network infrastructure that I plan, configure and install.”
Advice for other students
Gareth – who graduated from AUT in 2021 – has some great advice for other students.
“My recommendation for future AUT students if to make an effort to meet your classmates early in the semester. This may help to form study groups, provide a different perspective on the course material or give you someone to socialise with between classes.”
Make the most of extracurricular activities AUT provides, he adds.
“Activities outside of your direct studies can be a great way to meet other students and provide a break from what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming workload.”
