Graduation success for Indian student

A final year Indian student from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia has designed a vehicle to give Indian people with disabilities the opportunity to run their own businesses.

The vehicle, engineered by product design student Rachit Vora, is a wheelchair driven by a manual lever with built-in storage space, which will allow the user to store and sell products such as magazines and newspapers. 

Vora said that his design would also provide a cheaper mode of transport for people with physical disabilities, who often find it hard to gain employment.

“This product will open up more opportunities for Indian people with disabilities so they can better support their families and become involved in the community” he said.

Vora will be graduating with around 150 Indian students at Swinburne’s international graduation this week.

He said he was drawn to Australia, and particularly Swinburne, because of the opportunities available to international students.

“My study experience in Australia has been very positive. I have made many new friends here who helped me to adjust to living in a new country,” Vora said.

“I am always encouraging my friends in India to come to Australia because of the many study opportunities available here.”

He will be attending the ‘Designing for Children’ conference at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay from 3 – 5 February with Swinburne engineering lecturer Soullis Tavrou to discuss how to better implement design into university and school curriculum.

The international graduation ceremonies will be held on 21 and 22 December at the Hawthorn town hall.