European Commission prize for Auckland student

European Commission prize for Auckland student

A University of Auckland graduate has won a prestigious European Commission scholarship to pursue his studies in earthquake engineering.

Chris Van Houtte, from Parnell, was one of 12 students from outside of the European Union to receive a MEEES (Masters in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology) Scholarship worth at least 21,000 Euros.

It was awarded under the Commissions’ Erasmus Mundus programme, which intends to strengthen Europe’s international links in higher education by enabling visiting scholars from around the world to engage in postgraduate study at European universities.

Chris, who completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) Honours degree in 2008 with a focus on seismic design, must complete his masters in at least two universities from Italy, France, Greece or the United Kingdom over the course of one year.

“This will expose me to some of the most advanced earthquake engineering research taking place in Europe, something which I could never have pursued without a scholarship,” Chris says. “This is such an important field to a seismically active country like New Zealand. I am stoked to have this opportunity.”

Chris recently represented The University of Auckland in an international seismic design competition in Taiwan, the team recording a respectable sixth placing. He received a Senior Prize in Civil Engineering in the final year of his degree.

ENDS

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