Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment
School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
The University of South Australia is well known for producing graduates who can quickly assimilate to industry. The School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering has developed a number of Cooperative Training Programs (CTP), which are based on partnerships between industry and the University, to provide engineering students in the School with industrial experience during the course of their study.
You are invited to participate in the following programs:
It is a requirement of the Engineers Australia that students must have at least 12 weeks of industrial experience before their graduation. Under this program third-year students work in a company to obtain engineering experience, usually from November to the end of February, for which remuneration may be negotiated between the company and the student. At the end of this period students are required to submit a work experience report for assessment.
Under this program students work on a project, usually from March until October, under the joint supervision of an academic staff member and an industry partner. Although students are based at the University they are required to visit the company for fieldwork as often as required. At the end of the project students are required to present a seminar and submit a report for assessment. In some cases it may be appropriate for the company to make a contribution toward project expenses.
Under this program students work in a company on a full-time basis from November to February to obtain industrial experience. At the end of this period the company offers students a final year project to work on from March to October. During this period students are based at the company and spend one and a half days a week working on the project and approximately two days at the University attending classes. Students may spend the balance of their time working on other projects for the company on a part time basis, for which remuneration may be negotiated between the company and the student. A student may commence a project in the course of their work experience, if required.
This program is similar to the previous program (Option 1) except that at the end of the work experience period students continue to work on the final year projects and other tasks at the company on a full-time basis, usually from March until July, and return to the University to finish their study in the second semester. Students also have the option of studying in the first semester (March until July) undertaking their final year project in the second semester.
The Final Year Project and Work Experience Programs are a partnership between the School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering and industries to provide industry experience to engineering students. The programs provide companies with many benefits, including:
From the student perspective, the programs provide them with an opportunity to apply their academic skills to an industry project, and to experience a particular industry sector with a view to developing their career plans.
Companies which have participated in these programs include:
For further information about any of the programs, please contact:
Gueck Tea
Senior Academic Support Officer
School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
University of South Australia
Mawson Lakes Campus
MAWSON LAKES SA 5095
Telephone : 8302 6420
Fax :
8302 3378
Email :
gueck.tea@unisa.edu.au
Caroma has participated in the student work experience program with the University of South Australia for a decade or so. We believe that the program is mutually advantageous. Not only does the program provide important experience for the students, Caroma gains extra human resources and also has a chance to thoroughly evaluate prospective employees. Almost all of the graduates who join our company as full time employees come through the program. We have worked closely with the University to develop the work experience model that is used and we recommend it to other employers.
John Eagle : Engineering Manager, Caroma Industries Ltd
The work experience, combined with a final year project, gave me the opportunity to consolidate many of the skills and ideas that had been taught in previous years and also gave me an opportunity to put into practice or to see in practice many of the engineering concepts taught in the course. Practical application of engineering in the work place is very important for an undergraduate to both experience and implement in order to make them a valuable and work ready young professional. The variety of projects on offer ranged from product research and design to manufacturing processes and automation. Work experience, combined with a final year project and the links with industry, are an important and invaluable component of the University of South Australia's engineering program that gives its graduates an advantage in the job market.
Paul Muscat : Mechanical Engineer (Industrial), Connell Wagner
