The Bath Award encourages students to reflect on their experiences, recognise their strengths, and articulate the skills they've developed throughout their time at university. In this Q&A-style blog, Maaria Mamujee, a BSc Architecture student and Bath Award participant, discusses her summer internship at Aviva, what she has learnt from the experience, and how the Bath Award has supported her personal and professional development.
Could you introduce yourself (course, year of study, and internship role)?
My name is Maaria Mamujee. I'm going into my fourth year of my BSc Architecture degree here at the University of Bath. I am currently working as a Project Management Analyst Intern at Aviva for 10 weeks.
What are you doing for your internship this summer?
Supporting project managers within Aviva's Chief Information Office (CIO), learning how large technology and business change projects are planned and delivered. I'm also part of a project helping to streamline & utilise user data, as well as attending stakeholder meetings and project workshops.
One of my favourite parts has been seeing how much coordination goes into projects behind the scenes. Coming from architecture, it's been really interesting to see how many of the same skills of organisation, communication and problem solving apply in a completely different industry.
What attracted you to this opportunity and how did you secure it?
I wanted to broaden my experience beyond architecture and found during my time on placement that I am interested in project management, sustainability and large-scale problem solving. I was attracted by Aviva's strong early careers programme and collaborative culture.
After spending nine months in an architecture practice, I realised I am just as interested in how projects are managed as I was in designing them, so I wanted to explore that side of industry. I applied through the internship programme and completed the recruitment process!
What have been some of the highlights of your internship so far?
Meeting people from across the business and hearing about their career journeys, everyone has been incredibly welcoming and willing to answer questions. Also seeing and trying to wrap my head around the scale of projects happening behind the scenes at Aviva.
Have there been any challenges, and how have you overcome them?
Adapting to a completely new industry has been quite new, and there's been lots of learning unfamiliar terminology and systems. It has definitely been a bit daunting in my first week sitting in meetings where everyone was using acronyms I'd never heard before! I'm learning to ask lots of questions and make the most of every opportunity to learn.
How do you think this internship will support your future career goals?
It has broadened my understanding of careers outside architecture and helped me develop transferable project management skills. It has also increased my confidence working in professional environments and will hopefully strengthen my future graduate applications.
It's also made me realise I don't have to limit myself to a traditional architecture career, and that there are lots of opportunities where I can combine design thinking, sustainability and project management.
What motivated you to complete the Bath Award?
I've been trying to make the most of opportunities alongside my degree, so it was a nice opportunity to reflect on my personal and professional growth over the last three years and develop skills beyond academics through the four capabilities.
One thing I wanted to achieve at university was to leave with more than just a degree, and the Bath Award gave me a chance to recognise everything I'd done outside the classroom too.
Are there any aspects of the Bath Award that you found particularly useful or valuable?
Having a structured way to reflect on my experiences, being able to identify transferable skills, and recognising the value of extracurricular activities and volunteering.
Has the Bath Award helped you to reflect on and communicate your skills and experiences?
It helped me put my experiences into words and improved my confidence in talking about my achievements, making me feel like I have credibility when giving examples in interviews. It has also helped me recognise strengths I hadn't recognised before.
Do you think the Bath Award helped to prepare you for applying for opportunities such as your internship? If so, how?
It definitely has! It encouraged me to reflect before writing applications, helped me structure competency-based interview answers, and made it easier to explain transferable skills from university, volunteering and placements.
What advice would you give to other students considering completing the Bath Award?
I think most of us already do so much, and this programme is a brilliant way to recognise that. Starting early and reflecting throughout the year helps you see how much you already do, and it can encourage you to take advantage of opportunities outside your course. Also not to underestimate the smaller experiences, as it's about what you've learnt, not just what you've done.
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