Abstract:

This paper explores a comprehensive preparation framework designed for the work placement component of the Rethinking Engineering Education in Ireland (REEdI) program. A comprehensive preparation framework is essential to guarantee a successful outcome for all stakeholders, as the student engineers will engage in a two-year work placement, which constitutes a crucial aspect of the program.

REEdI is a collaboration between university and industry and will develop workplace experienced graduate engineers. It is a blended degree, with a duration of four years, equally divided between time spent in an academic setting and time spent in industry. Historically work placements have spanned six to nine months. The REEdI student engineers will spend two years at a host industry partner gaining the essential industry skills and personal attributes employers demand in a graduate engineer.

Work placement begins in year three of the programme. From the outset of the programme the student engineers are being prepared for industry. As part of the co-development of the REEdI programme, industry informed the programme team that engineering graduates lacked many of the basic soft skills which are essential in the workplace. Informed by this industry feedback, soft and transversal skill development were embedded into the curriculum, to ensure work ready student engineers for the beginning of work placement. These skills are bolstered throughout the first two years of the programme with host industry site tours, in-class guest lectures, Engineer in Residence (EiR) lectures, mock interviews, guidance on curriculum vitae creation and an engineering symposium. This all builds the student engineers’ soft skills, communication skills and guides in the selection of the industry student engineers would like to work in. This is followed by the formal structured work placement application process, which includes selecting and sending CVs to the preferred industry partners, followed by the interview process, job offer and finally the signing of work placement contracts. This paper will expand on these initiatives.

This comprehensive preparation framework for significant work placement will establish firm foundations for student engineers to develop their engineering skills and talents and provide the opportunities to meet the required learning outcomes. The framework will ensure that industry partners select a student engineer tailored to the engineering role and that these student engineers are prepared for industry, facilitating seamless integration and immediate contribution to their engineering team.

Keywords:

Work placement, student engineer, framework, industry, engineering symposium, soft skills.