Diego Pardo Amaya, MSc Automotive Engineering, 2018, Colombia, Alumni
“Studying Automotive Engineering at Oxford Brookes was one of the most transformative experiences of my academic and professional life.”
“I chose Oxford Brookes because of its strong reputation and its close links with the automotive and motorsport industry.”
I decided to study at Oxford Brookes because of the international reputation of its Automotive Engineering programme, particularly its focus on innovation and its strong connections to industry. I was looking for a course that combined academic knowledge with real world application, and Brookes offered exactly that.
Living in Oxford made the experience even more rewarding. The city has a unique academic atmosphere that constantly encourages learning, while the international community at Oxford Brookes made it easy to build connections with both staff and students from around the world.
“One of the most exciting parts of my studies was working on international engineering projects.”
During my time at Oxford Brookes, I was involved in the Formula Student Electric project, where I worked on the development of electric racing technologies and gained experience using advanced engineering tools and simulation environments. This gave me valuable insight into how academic research, engineering design and industry innovation come together, particularly in the transition towards electric and low emission mobility.
That experience strengthened my interest in sustainable transport and helped shape the direction of my career.
“Today, I work at the Ministry of Environment in Colombia, focusing on vehicle emissions and sustainable mobility.”
After graduating, I moved into sustainable transport policy and emissions regulation. I now work as a technical leader within Colombia’s National Authority on Environmental Licences, where I am involved in evaluating and certifying vehicle emissions and mobile sources entering the country. My work supports compliance with international standards and contributes to improving air quality and environmental protection.
Alongside this, I am also involved in academia as a lecturer and researcher, focusing on automotive engineering, energy efficiency in transport and sustainable mobility. This allows me to share my experience with future engineers while continuing to contribute to the development of cleaner transport solutions.
“Oxford Brookes gave me an international perspective on engineering and the confidence to work on global challenges.”
Looking back, my time at Oxford Brookes gave me more than a degree. It gave me the opportunity to work on cutting edge projects, develop a global outlook and build a career focused on sustainability and innovation.
My advice to future students is to make the most of every opportunity. Engage with the city, collaborate with people from different backgrounds and take advantage of the connections between your studies and real industry challenges.