“Many members of my family worked in the construction industry while I was growing up and then, watching the city of Dubai develop over my childhood, I guess it wasn’t surprising that I would be interested in buildings and cityscapes,” she said. 

 “Infrastructure can so quickly change a city and affect the lives of so many people – I found that fascinating.” 

She attended university in her native Kerala and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering before going on to work in one of the leading construction companies for buildings, highways and infrastructure development in the UAE. 

Most of her colleagues were male but she nevertheless found them very encouraging of her as a female in construction. “My experience has always been positive, to be honest,” she says. “But then again, my mother worked in the construction industry so I guess I always had that role model in the family. In UAE there probably aren’t that many women in the hands-on construction side of things – the climate is so harsh and site work is very physically demanding in incredibly hot temperatures – but there is a good gender balance overall, with a lot of females working in administrative and professional roles in the industry.” 

Despite enjoying her first graduate job, Sandra felt she would like to progress into the management side of the industry. To do this, she needed a post-graduate qualification and she decided that the UK would be the best place to pursue this. 

“I wanted to find the right course – I was interested in the management and the legal side of things, so the Queen’s course really stood out for me as having the right balance of project management and construction law.  

“I also wanted to go to a really top UK university – but not in a big, major city like London – so Queen’s and Northern Ireland seemed like the perfect combination.” 

But it was hard to emigrate – Sandra knew no-one in Belfast and missed her family and friends terribly at first. But her background helped her adapt to such a new place and culture. “Growing up in the UAE, I was always around people of different cultures,” she explained. “I had also worked in a multinational environment in my first job, so all that made it easier to make friends and settle in when I moved here. It was hard, moving to an entirely new country, but I met some really special people here and some of them will be coming to my graduation.” 

Not only has Sandra got her Master’s under her belt, but she will graduate with Distinction. She’s hoping to stay living in Belfast, if she can secure the right job. “I love this city,” she said. “As an international student, I loved that the city was home to so many students. Everyone I’ve met has been extremely welcoming and I've always felt at home here.  

“The only aspect I'm still getting adjusted to is the weather! I'm not used to the low temperatures after living in hot and humid climates.” 

 

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