Mario Rivas Sanchez

Why did you choose to study this course at the Institute for Transport Studies?

I chose this course because I wanted to enhance my knowledge in Public Transport, including topics related to vehicle emissions and impact on environment and health. Additionally, I looked at each transport department in the UK and I realised that ITS is the best in the UK and one of the best around the world. Secondly, the wide range of areas covered by the course was relevant for me because I did not want to learn about specific topics or fields in transport. Besides this, ITS gives us the opportunity to choose the modules which you are most interested in. 

What has been the best aspect of studying your course so far and why?

There are several interesting aspects, but the most relevant for me is that ITS has a close relationship with companies, councils, institutions and communities, and is involves in the most relevant transport issues in the UK. Therefore, we are learning about current matters, projects and transport issues as well as learning the new trends for building sustainable cities.

What experiences at Leeds do you think will help you in your future career?

I think the most helpful experience will be the dissertation because I am working with TfL on the topic of bus reliability and the impact this has on revenue and demand. Therefore, I am working with one of the most important department of transport around the world and solving real issues, adding value to the transport system in London.

Tell us about some of the exciting projects you have completed.

One of the exciting projects was finishing the redesign of Leeds City Square. In this project we were working in groups with students from different backgrounds, developing a sustainable solution for the council in order to increase the levels of walking and cycling across the city square. 

What are your ambitions for the future?

I want to work in London for a couple of years and get a relevant position where I can develop my interests and work on challenging projects in the UK. 

What would you say to students coming to do the same course?

If you want to study in the best transport institute in the UK, you must come to ITS at the University of Leeds because you will learn from the best lectures, projects and experiences. 

How has the Institute’s link with industry improved your future job prospects?

ITS has close connections with companies and, because of this, we recently spent two days with relevant people from the best transport companies around the world, where they did a presentation about their companies, projects and positions. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to get interviews with them which was amazing for me since I got a job in London in a fantastic company.