RMIT Aerospace Student Named Victoria’s Most Entrepreneurial at International Education Awards
Aerospace engineering student Preetham Akula has won the new entrepreneurship category at the Victorian International Education Awards 2024.
Akula said he was attracted to RMIT for its specialist training in the field.
While his goal has always been to start an aerospace defence company, his business journey began with a beverage start-up.
“I wanted to demonstrate something in the market before I ask for a few million dollars from a venture capital fund,” Akula said.
“I put myself through a training exercise of sorts, to teach myself how to run a business and give myself room to make mistakes and learn.”
His company Akula Tech is now preparing for the launch of its first satellite in 2025.
“This award is almost a proof of concept that one can achieve something big, even if they are an international student and not from the local community,” he said.
Akula was recognised alongside his peer Ajmal Abdul Azees, a finalist in the research category.
“It’s really good recognition. I had tears in my eyes,” said PhD candidate Ajmal Abdul Azees, who developed the world’s first hybrid cochlear implant.
“So far, I have worked three and a half years on my PhD and it’s like paying off what you have done with some recognition, which tells you that you have done something.”
Azees, who travelled from Sri Lanka to study at RMIT and is also a researcher at the Bionics Institute, has overhauled the cochlear implant, which has remained unchanged since 1978.
Pre-clinical trials are currently underway at St Vincent’s Hospital.
“[The cochlear implant] helps people to hear again, but it uses electricity. So my project was involved in different technology using light to stimulate the auditory nerve to help people to hear again,” he said.
“Globally around 700 million people are deaf. [The recognition] will raise awareness of what I’m trying to do and help with my future research. So that’s a good feeling.”
Saskia Loer Hansen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and Engagement, said the awards provide great recognition for students and highlight the valuable contribution they make to the Victorian community.
“International students travel from across the world to undertake study and research opportunities at RMIT,” she said.
“Our international students are a vital part of the community and bring a wealth of skills and global knowledge to the classroom, to campus life and through the relationships that remain well beyond graduation.”