Before starting their Engineering journey at the University of Auckland, Michael Hardy and Ben Martin pictured engineering to be all about buildings, bridges, roads, and tunnels. But once they began the programme, they discovered a world far beyond what they expected – with a range of specialisations to choose from. Both drawn to problem-solving, they found their place in Software Engineering.

Michael and Ben have joined forces for their Final Year Project, where they’re transforming The Gift Box – a physical mental health tool created by Dr Patte Randal – into a digital app aimed at improving access to mental health support. As part of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (BE(Hons)) programme, the project allows them to put their engineering knowledge into practice, tackling a real-world challenge much like they would in their future careers.

“We're working on digitalising The Gift Box – a physical mental health support box – into a mobile app to increase its accessibility. Currently, it's quite limited in its physical form; you have to be in the same room as the other people using the tool to use it,” says Ben.

“Looking through all of the potential projects that we could choose from, digitalising The Gift Box jumped out at us as something that could really make an impact. To have a product in the end that could be used for something as important as mental health was really cool,” adds Michael.

"We're essentially building a digital product from scratch, starting with research and moving through to implementation. The digital Gift Box app is being created as a companion to work alongside the physical product.” 

“We think it’s incredibly valuable to maintain face-to-face interactions in a mental health setting as that allows people to build that bridge of trust,” Ben emphasises.

“Technology has had a huge impact on the world, especially over the past few years. For mental health tools, I think it’s going to be really beneficial to integrate physical solutions with digital ones,” says Michael.

“As with any endeavour, challenges have arisen along the way. My time at the University of Auckland has taught me that challenges are not negative things. Rather, they are opportunities to test your skills, get creative and build your confidence. After all, a project with no challenges would not be very fun!”

“I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left high school. I think Engineering offers such a wide range of things that you can try, especially in the first year. You get a little taste of every piece of engineering and that helps you make a decision.”

“To high school students considering studying Engineering, I would say just give it a go, even if you're unsure of what you want to do. You've got a whole year to decide what you want to go into; you can try out different things and see what you enjoy,” Ben adds.

Find out more about the programme structure, entry requirements, fees, and key dates for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).