Master of Applied Computing graduate Harshkumar Nayanbhai Patel earned a Rising Star Award for outstanding work during a Winter 2026 co-op placement at RBC, where he developed AI-powered solutions that improved efficiency and delivered business value. (SUBMITTED BY HARSHKUMAR NAYANBHAI PATEL/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
For Harshkumar Nayanbhai Patel (MAC '26), a co-op placement at RBC became more than a learning opportunity. By the end of his work term, he had helped develop AI-powered solutions that were saving thousands of engineering hours annually and earned a full-time software engineering position with the company.
Working on RBC's Cloud Data Lake Hub team, Patel contributed to enterprise software and artificial intelligence initiatives designed to improve efficiency and support large-scale operations. Among his accomplishments was helping build an AI automation platform that automated engineering processes and contributed to more than 1,800 engineering hours in annual savings and thousands of dollars in cost reductions.
Patel's impact earned him a Rising Star Award, recognizing outstanding co-op students. In this Q&A, he reflects on the projects that shaped his work term, the lessons he learned and how the experience helped launch his professional career.
Q: What was your role during your co-op placement at RBC?
A: I worked with RBC's Cloud Data Lake Hub team, contributing to enterprise software development, AI automation initiatives and platform improvements. I worked on scalable solutions, system monitoring and software used by internal teams across the organization.
Q: What contribution are you most proud of?
A: One of my most significant contributions was helping design and implement an enterprise AI automation platform. By integrating Python, FastAPI and Jira APIs, the solution automated manual engineering processes and contributed to saving more than 1,800 engineering hours annually while generating approximately $108,000 in cost savings.
Q: What was the most significant learning experience during your placement?
A: Learning how to transform artificial intelligence from a theoretical concept into a production-ready enterprise tool was the most significant experience. Seeing the platform deliver measurable business results showed me how valuable technology can be when it solves real-world challenges.
Q: What skills did you develop through the experience?
A: I gained experience with enterprise-level tools, cloud environments, scalable application design and system monitoring. I also strengthened my communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills by working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
Q: RBC highlighted your ability to take ownership of complex projects. How did that shape your growth?
A: It gave me the confidence to take responsibility for high-impact projects from design through implementation. I learned the importance of independent research, adaptability and collaboration when working in large enterprise environments.
Q: How did the placement influence your future career plans?
A: The experience strengthened my interest in enterprise AI engineering and software architecture. It motivated me to continue developing my technical skills and pursue opportunities where I can build solutions that create meaningful business value.
Q: What happened after your co-op term ended?
A: The placement led directly to my next career opportunity. I accepted a full-time position with RBC Borealis as a software engineer, where I will continue building scalable and intelligent systems while applying the skills I developed during my studies and co-op experience.
From enterprise AI development to large-scale software projects, Patel's co-op experience demonstrates the value of combining academic knowledge with hands-on industry experience. The skills he developed, the impact he made and the full-time opportunity that followed reflect the potential of work-integrated learning to launch successful careers.
This article is part of a series celebrating excellence in experiential learning and recognizing Rising Star Award recipients selected by Co-op, Career & Experiential Education.
New employers looking to learn more about hiring a co-op student can contact hire@uwindsor.ca