Seven UQ engineering students will benefit from work experience with the power industry during vacations, thanks to special industry bursaries.
The bursaries, presented by Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson late last year, are an initiative of the Power Engineering Alliance, an industry–university partnership which aims to improve Queensland's access to engineering graduates with power industry skills.
The UQ students Sarah Hiley, Tian Yu Zhang, Brendan Boyd, Tze Hin Yip, David Edwards, Chris James and Benjamin Hall were among 14 Queensland students recently awarded the bursaries to support their studies in power engineering.
"The education of our future engineers is a high priority for the energy industry and for the Queensland Government," said Mines and Energy Minister, Geoff Wilson.
"The Power Engineering Alliance and the Power Engineering Bursary scheme stand to strengthen our engineering skill base, strengthen the long-term outlook for our energy industry, and strengthen the academic potential of our next generation of engineers.
"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."
Professor Stephen Walker, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture, said the industry-sponsored bursaries reinforced the message to prospective students that excellent employment opportunities existed for power-engineering graduates.
"By supporting the development of graduates with specialised power engineering skills, we can recognise the high-quality graduates who might 'best fit' the future requirements of the industry," he said.
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. The bursary is a good example of what can be achieved when companies work together to support the community," Mr Bartlett said.
"We are greatly encouraged by the impact we can have in providing opportunities for our next generation of engineers."
Bursary sponsors – ABB, AREVA, Australian Power Institute, CS Energy, ENERGEX, Ergon Energy, Maunsell Australia, PB Power, Powerlink Queensland, Stanwell Corporation and Tarong Energy – established the program in collaboration with Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland and Central Queensland University.
For further information about the bursaries and on how to apply, please contact Professor Tapan Saha in the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering on 3365 3962.
