Engineering students get a feel for industry

Over the past month, Engineering Students at Dundee and Angus College have been given the opportunity to visit different businesses to get an insight into the different jobs available in the industry.

The first visit was to MVV Environment Baldovie and was attended by NC Engineering students. MVV is one of Germany’s leading energy companies with their activities focussing on providing a reliable, economical, and environmentally-friendly supply of energy to industrial, commercial, and private household customers. 

In November 2017, MVV entered a contract with Dundee City and Angus Councils to manage their residual waste (that is waste left over after recyclable materials have been removed). MVV endeavours to fulfil the requirements of the Scottish Government’s hierarchical Zero Waste priorities on:

  1. reduce
    2. reuse
    3. recycling
    4. recovery (of energy for example)
    5. disposal

The students were shown around MVV by Sarah Cartmill Community Liaison Manager who gave a presentation and site tour. The presentation and tour allowed our students to see how multi aspects of engineering which they are learning about in college come together in the industry.

Andrew Gavin the Lecturer on this visit said, “Moving through the college it is important that the students get opportunities to get out there and see what the workplace is like and the jobs that are available.”

 

The second visit saw HNC Engineering Students visit SP Automation & Robotics. They specialise in the assembly of special purpose machine building, implementing bespoke automation solutions from food and drinks to medical devices. SP Automation & Robotics is one of the longest established automation manufacturers in the UK, serving a vast range of industries for over 35 years. Students were given a presentation and then a site tour from Roy, Lee, Derek, and Braden. All students came away with a great understanding of how many varieties of engineering come together to create and build a machine, with many amazed that a company like this existed in Dundee. Students were allowed to see the brand-new robots that were being finished off before coming to the college which will ensure our students are being trained on the technology for the future in their courses.

Sky a student on the visit said, “It has been a very informative trip, I love the robots and I now know this is the sort of thing I want to do as a career.  It was really good seeing how they make the specialised robots and how it all works.”

 

The last visit saw the NC Engineering students this time visit ATL Turbine Services. ATL is a specialist in late lifecycle turbines. It is their core value to repair and overhaul turbine engine components to the highest quality standard to meet customers’ requirements. They are committed to developing a component repair business to meet the needs for both original equipment manufacturers and independent overhaul facilities worldwide. Students were given a detailed presentation about the company along with a site tour by Tom Hanratty, Operations Support Manager. The students gained a great insight into ATL’s working processes, which will no doubt help them in their future in Engineering.

John one of the students who visited ATL said, “It is definitely beneficial getting opportunities like this to see how these businesses work and what it would be like to work here or somewhere similar.”

 

All three visits have given our students an understanding of the opportunities available in Engineering and the different skills required, it has also allowed students to form contacts as many seek out apprenticeship opportunities. We would like to say a big thank you, to MVV Baldovie, SP Automation and Robotics, and ATL turbine services for giving our students this opportunity.