Three University of Queensland first-year engineering students have each received $6000 power industry bursaries to assist them with their studies.
The Queensland Electricity Transmission and Distribution (QETD) Group recently announced the bursaries, funded by the State’s six power companies, Areva (manufacturing industry) and by The Electric Energy Society of Australia.
The UQ first-year Engineering student recipients were: Robert Scott, Chris Djamaludin and Peter Beasley.
According to School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE) Associate Professor Tapan Saha, the students will specialise in electrical power engineering in their third and fourth years including periods of work experience with power companies.
He said the bursaries were an excellent way of attracting quality students to the field of electrical engineering specialising in power and eventual positions within the Queensland power industry.
Five bursaries were announced at a special ceremony held at Energex’s head office in late October and hosted by State Energy Minister John Mickel. The other three bursaries were announced at a ceremony in Ergon Energy, Rockhampton.
Mr Mickel said the energy industry and tertiary sectors were to be congratulated for working together to attract and retain skilled staff.
“The independent review into Electricity Distribution and Service Delivery identified an ageing workforce and the need to recruit younger staff as areas of concern,” Mr Mickel said.
“This bursary scheme is designed to encourage engineering students to take up, and complete, a degree in engineering fields relevant to the electricity industry.”
The students will receive $1000 in the first and second years of study and $2000 in their third and fourth years.
Participating partners in the scheme are: The University of Queensland, Powerlink, Stanwell Corporation, Energex, Ergon Energy, CS Energy, Tarong Power, The Electric Energy Society of Australia, Areva, Central Queensland University and the Queensland University of Technology.
Media contacts: Dr Tapan Saha (telephone: 07 3365 3962, email: saha@itee.uq.edu.au) or Shirley Glaister at UQ Communications (telephone: 07 3365 1120, email: s.glaister@uq.edu.au).
