Six engineering students from The University of Queensland have received bursaries valued at $8000 in an effort to strengthen the State’s energy industry skills base.
The bursaries are an initiative of The Power Engineering Alliance, an industry-wide partnership which incorporates UQ.
Member for Yeerongpilly, Simon Finn MP, presented the 11 bursary winners with a cheque and certificate on October 19.
“The education of our future engineers is a high priority for the energy industry and for the Queensland Government,” Mr Finn said.
“The bursary recipients will benefit from work experience during vacation periods in the Queensland power industry to help broaden their knowledge and understanding of the industry and strengthen their capabilities.
“The students receiving bursaries are an example of the up-and-coming talent we need to make Queensland’s power industry the best in Australia.”
The UQ recipents, Leisa Cash, Guang Guan, Alexandra Price, Damien Rua, Jessica Wrigley and Kieran Wynn, will receive the $8000 over the next three years to support their studies in engineering.
Professor Tapan Saha, from UQ’s School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, said The University’s success highlighted its significance to the State’s energy industry.
“Fourteen students from UQ are currently under the Power Engineering Alliance bursary program,” Professor Saha said.
“We are attracting some very bright students into the scheme.
“Students are benefiting from this power industry initiative – those who receive bursaries are employed during their vacations and many of them have their final-year thesis projects sponsored by the industry.”
Powerlink Chief Operating Officer and Chair of the Power Engineering Alliance, Simon Bartlett, said Powerlink was proud to support an initiative that would spark education in engineering.
“Powerlink and our fellow Power Engineering Alliance partners are committed to supporting young people in the pursuit of education and academic excellence,” Mr Bartlett said.
“We are greatly encouraged by the impact we can have in providing opportunities for our next generation of engineers.”
Media: Further information, Professor Saha (3365 3962, saha@itee.uq.edu.au) or Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
