Hi, I'm Miza Nasuha, and I study Economics at University of Glasgow. I applied to the Saltire Scholars Programme because I wanted more than just a summer job – I wanted an experience that would challenge me, take me out of the classroom, and give me a glimpse into a professional world I'd never seen before.
I hope to grow in confidence, pick up new skills, and meet people who could inspire me. More than anything, I wanted to prove myself that I could take what I've been learning at university and actually make a difference in the real world.
This summer I interned with Network Rail Scotland, working on the Autumn Project. My role was all about helping to improve and roll out a new inspection and reporting app for Mobile Operations Managers (MOMs). Before this internship, I had no idea how much thought went into keeping trains running safely during the leaf-fall season, or how much of a headache wet leaves on the track could cause!
My days were really varied. Some were spent in meetings with developers and managers, talking about features the app needed. Others were spend shadowing MOMs on site in places like Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, and Inverness. Those site visits were my favourite part – seeing the railway up close, chatting to people on the frontline, and realising that the "small" details they deal with everyday (like track contamination or communication gaps) actually have huge consequences for safety and performance.
I quickly learned that the app wasn't just about collecting data – it was about helping MOMs and seasonal teams coordinate better. One big problem was duplication : two teams might visit the same site without realising the other had already been there. I gathered feedback from staff and suggested practical improvements like GPS integration, offline access, live updates, and a daily plan view.
I also put together a user guide for the app, something simple and practical that MOMs could use long after my placement ended. That was a proud moment for me – creating something tangible that I knew would actually help.
The most rewarding part of the internship, though, was the people. MOMs were so open in sharing their frustrations and ideas, and managers genuinely listened to what I brought back from those conversations. I felt like I was trusted to be a bridge between the two.
This internship stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. At first, I was nervous about speaking up in meetings, but I realised that my role was to ask questions and put ideas forward, even if they weren’t perfect. By the end of the summer, I felt far more confident – not just in my ability to contribute, but in my ability to adapt and learn quickly.
One thing I never thought I’d achieve was delivering a resource (the user guide) that would outlast my placement. It’s easy to feel like “just an intern”, but I proved to myself that I could leave something behind that mattered.
If you’re thinking about applying to the Saltire Scholars Programme, my advice is simple : do it. You’ll learn so much about yourself. Don’t worry about not knowing everything – be curious, ask questions, and be willing to get stuck in.
Being a Saltire Scholar means being part of a community of people who want to make an impact. For me, it’s shown that I can step into an unfamiliar world, find my feet, and actually contribute something meaningful. That’s a lesson I’ll carry with me wherever I go next.
