Student Engineering Experience Guidebook

Transcription

1 Student Engineering Experience Guidebook School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 1

2 Table of Contents Engineering Experience Requirements... 3 Exemptions to Mandatory 12 Week Engineering Experience... 6 Steps to Finding Engineering Experience... 7 Frequently Asked Questions... 8 Engineering Experience Checklist Tips on Finding Engineering Experience You're hired: What now? School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 2

3 Engineering Experience Requirements All Engineering Degree Programs at the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at RMIT University are accredited by Engineers Australia (EA) and require participation in a minimum of 12 weeks of approved engineering experience before completion of studies as detailed within the course guide for OENG1059 Professional Project 2. This experience can be accumulated through a single 12 week block, or a number of shorter periods totalling at least 12 weeks. Expectations Students are required to have completed Engineering Experience to satisfy the requirement that engineering graduates must have undertaken approximately 12 weeks of work experience in a relevant professional engineering workplace, or had experiences equivalent to such 12 weeks. This will normally be done in the non-teaching period over the summer vacation period prior to the final year of academic studies. This activity contributes to the Work Integrated Learning of your program. When engaged in engineering employment you need to be involved in activities that allow you to observe at firsthand the sort of work that professional engineers undertake. Ideally you will be assisting a professional engineer and can engage in regular discourse with that mentor. Safety When commencing employment you should have been given an Occupational Health and Safety induction by the employer. If this has not already been given to you please ask your industry supervisor to do so. At all times remember "Safety First." Assessments The letter and reflective report described below are to be submitted together with a log book (supporting the report). Assessment Criteria for the Letter: Each of you undertaking engineering employment must obtain a letter on the company letterhead indicating: (i) The dates and duration of the employment; (ii) The duties carried out whilst employed with the company; (iii) Your performance This letter provides feedback to you and RMIT and constitutes assessment component of your Work Integrated Learning. Assessment Criteria for the Reflective Report: Each of you is required to write a brief report of at least three pages which: (i) Describes your induction into the workplace in particular with respect to occupational health and safety; (ii) Lists of the activities, or type of tasks, that you have undertaken during your employment in industry. This should identify relevant technical and non-technical aspects; (iii) Reflect on how the work experience has developed in you the relevant capabilities a graduate engineer should have (refer to list* below which is based on Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies). A paragraph related to each of the capabilities that were developed should be provided; (iv) Reflect on how you have been able to use in the workplace various aspects of material academically studied; (v) Reflect on how this experience has changed your approach to the academic study in your program; School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 3

4 (vi) Reflect on what further skills you should develop, and how you plan to do so over the next 5 years *Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies Depending on the type of company at which you are employed, and the activities you undertake there, engineering experience has the potential to advance your development of many of the following broad capabilities: - Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. - Conceptual understanding of the, mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. - In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. - Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. - Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. - Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline. - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. - Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. - Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. - Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. - Ethical conduct and professional accountability - Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. - Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour. - Professional use and management of information. - Orderly management of self and professional conduct. - Effective team membership and team leadership. Assessment Criteria for the Log Book: Each of you is required to keep a weekly professional engineering log book of the project and activities you are involved in whilst on placement. The log book will aid you in writing the Reflective Report. Once you have secured 12 weeks of engineering experience please samme.placements@rmit.edu.au with details and a log book will be provided for you. Consider the following tips when using your log book: An engineering logbook is a personal/professional reference about project learning and results. To protect intellectual property in the workplace, it should be bound so that pages cannot be inserted/removed, written in ink, dated, and fill consecutive pages. Please do not remove pages from your log book, to delete an entry, simply delete an entry by neatly drawing a single line through it. General Expectations: 5-6 pages of thoughtful entries per week in support of a quality design process Log of planning, communications, team meetings, and lecture notes Project learning and product development Review of individual/team/product performance Organisation/format for easy re-reading/re-use School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 4

5 Industry Expectations: Record the date on each page. Start each day on a new page. Label each entry and record this in a table of contents (reserve 3-4 pages at start). Use ink. Do not erase. Delete an entry by neatly drawing a single line through it. Do not remove pages, and do not skip pages. Avoid backfilling. If you realise later that you left something out, or just want to summarise something, go ahead and write it in, noting that it s after-the-fact. Include everything you contribute to good, bad, and ugly. Sketches/doodling Customer needs/requirements Class notes Project objectives Meeting notes Action Items Half-baked Ideas Math calculations Work-in-progress Design alternatives Vendor notes Research findings Sources of ideas Evaluation of data/results Design reviews Decision criteria Design process Rationale for decisions Project reflections Professional development Logbook Prompts: If you just finished A meeting Brainstorming Engineering Analysis Ask yourself What were the main outcomes of the meeting? Was the meeting productive, and why? What are your personal action items before the next meeting? Is the team heading in the right direction? Which ideas seem most feasible, and why? Are there enough good ideas? How could better ideas be developed based on this session? What were the governing equations? What were the most important findings? What do the results mean and how should they be applied? Visualisation (by hand or in CAD) What are the major features/discoveries and why are these significant? What was learned about the problem or solution possibilities? What problems were resolved and what still needs to be addressed? How does this piece integrate with the whole? An internet search What key information did I find? How does it help achieve the project objectives? Are there other sources that should be pursued? What new questions were generated? School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 5

6 Exemptions to Mandatory 12 Week Engineering Experience Students are also able to increase their exposure to Professional Engineering Practice by enrolling in: - MIET1106 Industry Placement Program - Working full time in Industry for 6 to 12 months - This 24 credit point course counts as two student electives - Specific course information within the course guide - MIET2065 International Industry Experience 1 - Working full time for 1 semester in an overseas industry placement organised through RMIT International Experience and Research Program (RIIERP) - This is a 12 credit point course and counts as one student elective - MIET2066 International Industry Experience 2 - Working full time for 2 semesters in an overseas industry placement organised through RMIT International Experience and Research Program (RIIERP) - This 24 credit point course counts as two student electives - OENG1058 and OENG1059 Professional Project Part 1 and Part 2 - Undertaking a professional project in conjunction with and based in industry (2 to 3 days per week at the company) for 2 semesters receiving supervision from an internal RMIT supervisor and an external an industry-based practitioner supervisor - This 24 credit point core course (12 credit points respectively) counts towards your program - MIET2393 Professional Project (Industry) - Undertaking a professional project during full time industry placement for at least 1 semester receiving supervision from an internal RMIT supervisor and an external industry-based practitioner supervisor - This is a 24 credit point course *Important Note: Should you undertake one of the above courses you are required to satisfy individual course assessments and also submit assessments as outlined in Engineering Experience Requirements of this guidebook. Should you undertake one of the above courses or your Final Year Project is directly supported by industry, you must contact the SAMME Project Coordinator at samme.placements@rmit.edu.au to approve this arrangement. Students who fail to undertake a minimum of 12 weeks engineering experience or one of the above mentioned alternatives will fail to satisfy this mandatory requirement and will not be able to graduate. School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 6

7 Steps to Finding Engineering Experience (1) During their studies, students actively seek engineering experience aided by Engineers Australia listings, GradConnection listings, RMIT Careers Toolkit and Engineers Australia careers expos. *Important Note: It is recommended that students start looking for engineering experience early in their studies. It is recommended for students to undertake their engineering experience after they have completed third year, prior to commencing their final year of studies, however mandatory 12 week engineering experience can be completed earlier should you find suitable engineering experience. *Some International students may choose to undertake their engineering experience in their home country. (2) Should you decide to undertake one of the alternatives to the mandatory 12 week engineering experience requirement outlined within the student engineering experience guide book, you must SAMME Placements: to be able to satisfy this requirement and complete your program. (3) Once you have secured engineering experience: SAMME Placements: -Name of company -Duration of your engineering experience and commencement date -Supervisor details and -Paid or unpaid placement *Important Note: This is a mandatory requirement and your engineering experience must be approved by the Project Coordinator, prior to being able to graduate. (4) If your placement is not paid, SAMME Placements will your industry supervisor a copy of the contract to be signed by both RMIT University and the Organisation. *Important Note: - UNPAID Placements - A contract must be signed between RMIT University and the Organisation so that you are covered by RMIT University insurance - PAID Placements - You are covered by insurance provided by the Organisation (5) During your placement, you are required to keep a weekly reflective professional engineering log book of your project and activities undertaken during your placement. Contact SAMME Placements to receive a copy of the prescribed log book. (6) Once you have completed your placement you are required to submit reflective report and employer letter on Pebble Pad Gateway OENG1059, Sub-gateway Engineering Employment. The hardcopy logbook is to be submitted at Bundoora East Reception with an Assignment Coversheet. *Important Note: Completing mandatory 12 week engineering experience and submission of assessments is a compulsory hurdle requirement for the core course OENG1059 and thus for the degree as a whole. School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 7

8 Frequently Asked Questions What are the engineering experience requirements for my degree? All Engineering Degree Programs at the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering are accredited by Engineers Australia (EA) and require participation in a minimum of 12 weeks of approved engineering experience before completion of studies. This experience can be accumulated through a single 12 week block, or a number of shorter periods totalling at least 12 weeks. What other options do I have? Students are also able to satisfy the 12 week engineering experience by undertaking one of the courses below: - MIET1106 Industry Placement Program - MIET2065 International Industry Experience 1 - MIET2066 International Industry Experience 2 - OENG1058 and OENG1059 Professional Project Part 1 and Part 2 (Industry supported project) - MIET2393 Professional Project (Industry) How do I find somewhere to do my engineering experience? Early in their studies, students need to actively seek engineering experience aided by Engineers Australia listings, GradConnection listings, RMIT Careers Toolkit and Engineers Australia careers expos. RMIT Careers Toolkit may be able to assist some students with obtaining opportunities for engineering experiences. Some of the services that they provide are: ejobs and online portal with discipline related work and engineering experience opportunities Information about job searching strategies Drop-in and appointment based resume and application checking, as well as an interview preparation service To increase your chances of finding the right placement you should also join engineering associations and societies (many of whom offer free student memberships), go to professional networking events and build relationships with the contacts you make, attend career fairs and most importantly, don t give up! As well as this, Engineers Australia has an Engineering Employment Handbook available on its website for members. According to the Engineers Australia website the Handbook contains listings from over 165 organisations and each listing provides the organisations engineering disciplinary area of interest, the type of work available, application methods, direct contact details and closing dates. School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 8

9 Can I be paid? While there is certainly an advantage to gaining paid employment, there is no requirement for you to undertake paid work. This aspect of your engineering experience is negotiable between yourself and your employer and will have an impact on the type of insurance you receive. *Important Note: - Unpaid Placements - A contract must be signed between RMIT University and the Organisation so that you are covered by University insurance - Paid Placements - You are covered by insurance provided by the Organisation What paperwork do I need to complete before I start? Once you have secured engineering experience: SAMME Placements: samme.placements@rmit.edu.au -Name of company -Duration of your engineering experience and commencement date -Supervisor details and -Paid or unpaid placement What insurance cover will I have while I am undertaking engineering experience? If you are PAID for your engineering experience, you will be covered by the relevant organisations insurance. If your engineering experience is UNPAID, you must notify SAMME Placements and you will be covered by the University Personal Accident Insurance. *Important Note: Should your employer require a certificate of currency please the SAMME Project Coordinator at samme.placements@rmit.edu.au How do you know that I ve completed my engineering experience? At the end of your engineering experience you are required to submit a reflective report, log book and employer letter on Pebble Pad Gateway OENG1059, Sub-gateway Engineering Employment. The Professional Engineering Logbook is to be submitted at Bundoora East Reception with an Assignment Coversheet. Details regarding your assessments are clearly outlined within the student engineering experience guide and within OENG1059 course guide. *Important Note: If you choose to undertake one of the alternatives to 12 week engineering experience outlined in this guidebook, you are required to notify your School Project Coordinator to have this approved and be able to graduate at samme.placements@rmit.edu.au When does everything need to be completed? You need to submit your assessments within Pebble Pad Gateway OENG1059 Sub Gateway Engineering Employment by Week 15 in order to graduate. This is outlined within OENG1059 course guide. Who is my relevant contact? SAMME Project Coordinator Tamara Grubor samme.placements@rmit.edu.au School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 9

10 Engineering Experience Checklist Start looking for engineering experience early in your studies Make sure your CV is professional by visiting RMIT Careers Toolkit Practice Practice Practice! Interview Practice available through RMIT Careers Toolkit Once you have found a placement, make sure to samme.placements@rmit.edu.au with all of the details Understand your assessments and deadlines Keep a professional engineering log book while undertaking engineering experience Upon completion of your engineering experience, submit your assessments via Pebble Pad Hardcopy of Professional Engineering Logbook to be submitted at Bundoora East Reception with an Assignment Coversheet Any questions samme.placements@rmit.edu.au or speak with your School Project Coordinator School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 10

11 Tips on Finding Engineering Experience Research and identify organisations to focus on, rather than applying to loads - fewer, carefully considered applications will increase your chances Apply early and tailor your application to the placement Get under the skin of the companies you're applying for - demonstrate knowledge and understanding of their culture and values Think about how appropriate your experience and personality is for the role Mirror the way in which employees at the organisation dress and communicate, as first impressions count Network with potential employers who you've met, perhaps on campus or at events, on social networking sites - most organisations have official Twitter handles and LinkedIn groups Don't be afraid of rejection - it may take a few applications before you find the right role to suit you - keep a positive mind and learn from your mistakes By Ollie Sidwell, founder, Ratemyplacement.co.uk You're hired: What now? When you start a placement, they will want to see a positive attitude and an eagerness to learn and develop Throw yourself into the mix and seek out all the possible opportunities at your disposal You can also see your engineering experience as a tool to find out where your strengths and weaknesses are, so you can look to develop and grow in these areas Network as much as possible, get to know those you are working with, you never know what opportunities may arise Push for your own project, something you can get your teeth stuck into and make your mark on Source: Laura Smith, milkround.com School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 11