Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/ Master of Engineering (BE (Hons)/ME) Placement Program GUIDE FOR UNIVERSITIES 2015
The 21st century engineer is someone with a truly global outlook who addresses increasingly complex and interdisciplinary challenges. The one known constant in the world – and in the engineering profession – is change. UQ’s response is to deliver the new and innovative five-year integrated Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Master of Engineering (BE (Hons)/ME) program. The program provides UQ students with greater specialisation opportunities and produces graduates who are agile and globally competitive. The defining activity in the BE (Hons)/ME program is a placement with industry or a research institution. Research placements are an outstanding opportunity for your researchers to collaborate with our best and brightest students who can contribute fresh and innovative ideas to current projects. The program is managed by an Industry Placements Coordinator, maximising outcomes and benefits to students and program partners. The partnerships also provide opportunities to explore further collaboration with UQ researchers. Our students are already world-class. In setting this new standard in Australian engineering education, we are excited about the opportunities that will be opened up to a new generation of young engineers and the contribution they will make to the industry in the future. More information on the program can be found here: www.eait.uq.edu.au/be-me
Zhu Yutong BE(Honours)/ME student “Having completed my Study Abroad year at UQ, I decided to undertake the Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering program, which has been very rewarding for me. As part of this program, every student is required to complete a six-month industrial or research placement, and I was fortunate enough to undertake a research placement with Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States. The placement provided me with the opportunity to improve my knowledge and skills in the field of chemical engineering and this experience will be useful when looking for a job after university.”
What is the BE (Hons)/ME Placement Program? Only the most outstanding undergraduate engineering students, who have a cumulative GPA of 5 (from a maximum of 7) or above, are eligible for the BE (Hons)/ME program. The placement takes place during either second semester of the 4th year, or the first semester of the 5th year. As a BE (Hons)/ME program partner, you are offered the following: • Involvement in the student selection process • A high-achieving engineering student placed in your institution full time for 12 to 24 weeks • An opportunity to utilise high-performing engineering students on current research projects • Continual placement collaboration with the UQ Industry Placement Coordinator • A UQ based academic supervisor supporting the student throughout the placement.
How does the BE (Hons)/ME Program work? At the end of their third year, students with a GPA of 5 and above choose whether they wish to join the five-year BE (Hons)/ME program or remain in, and graduate from the traditional four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program. Students who join the BE (Hons)/ME program undertake a placement in industry or conduct a research project with a university or research institution, either in Australia or overseas. Students are required to produce a thesis as part of their placement. We also work closely with our placement partners to define the scope of the placement. We provide our placement partners with the opportunity to interview students to ensure “best-fit” for them and for your institution. After the student returns to UQ from their placement they complete their final semesters, which include advanced courses and project work. The student then graduates from UQ with an integrated Bachelor (Honours) and Master of Engineering.
Key dates Our BE (Hons)/ME placement program is offered in both semester 1 and semester 2 and placements may be undertaken at any time between the dates outlined below: Semester 1 – 15th January to 30th June Semester 2 – 1st July to 28th February
Are there any costs involved? If a student elects to undertake their BE (Hons)/ME placement within a research institution either in Australia or overseas, they understand that a stipend may or may not be provided. It is at the research institutions’ discretion to offer financial support for the placement.
If you wish to engage our students on this program, please contact Laura Bainbridge Industry Placements Coordinator on +61 7 3346 6460 or industryplacements@eait.uq.edu.au
www.eait.uq.edu.au/be-me
CRICOS Provider Number 00025B