The mentoring process of power engineering undergraduates through industry placement : a real-life experience from electrical power engineering consulting sector

Power engineering education has been the focus of various researchers and academics over a long period of time. Various approaches have been attempted and their outcomes have been reported. Central Queensland University implemented a Project Based Learning model and came up with a fully integrated Bachelor of Engineering cooperative/Diploma of Professional Practice in 2004. Solid industry placement components integrated into the academic program is a main feature of this model. Various industries all over Queensland host the undergraduates and mentor them while they are based in their organizations mainly by involving them in teams that comprise of experienced engineers, undertaking regular engineering professional jobs and activities. The author of this paper spent nearly four months in an industry placement in one such company providing electrical engineering consulting services, which also hosts undergraduates in their industry placements. This paper describes the methodologies power engineering consulting sector uses in mentoring the undergraduates, their effectiveness and strengths through the real-life observations the author made.