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Chemical/Process
Qualifications: Degree in chemical or bioprocess engineering, or technology
Chemical engineers use science and engineering to develop the processes which turn raw materials into valuable products such as petrol, paper, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, plastics, synthetic fibres or paint. They are also responsible for ensuring that factories are able to run at the highest level of efficiency while producing as little waste or pollution as possible.
Virtually every industry, from dairy to deisel, employs chemical engineers to ensure that is processes are safe, efficient, and economic. Chemical engineers are highly sought after by manufacturing companies and research institutions because they are good at solving problems and improving how things are done. Chemical engineering is a great career choice if you are interested in design, the application of new technologies, developing new products or materials, and management.
With a Chemical Engineering degree from a New Zealand university, you could work all over the world and earn a very competitive salary. You learn many professional skills during your training, and the demand for chemical/process engineers in most fields is growing.
"It amazes me how many aspects of every day life I can now explain and understand with what we learnt, like how the weather works, which we were never taught but the ideas you learn are all transferable. This is a field where you get to use science and put it into practise, on constantly changing and ever more challenging new projects."
Andrew Corson, Process Engineer, Westland Milk Products