A typology of industrial placements in engineering studies in Europe

The word "placement" covers various realities in Europe...

The word "placement" covers various realities in Europe: different levels of work experience, different placement durations, different levels of interaction with academic studies and graduation (integrated and compulsory placements, optional placements, placements linked to project work development, placements leading to professional accreditation).

...but some common trends can be identified

We try to present hereafter some of the most common types of industrial placements associated with engineering studies found in the different MESIPA partner countries. Although they may vary in each country between universities, some common trends may be identified :

Long-stay placements (one year)

Industrial placements abroad

All MESIPA partner countries have developed various opportunities for industrial placements abroad, e.g.

Various methods have been tried out by Higher Education institutions to develop student industrial placements abroad :

- by transferring a curriculum-integrated placement period (or final project work) into a foreign company and country

this is an option offered to the student

technological requirements are about the same as for a national placement

- by creating specific placement periods abroad focused on the international education of the student

specific placement objectives have to be defined

these placements are often of short duration ( 2-3 months) and may take place in the summer

- by including a period of industrial experience in long-stay international study programmes, e.g.

one-year-abroad programmes (academic studies + industry)

double-degree programmes

foreign-language engineering programmes ((eg. BUTE Hungary)

 

Special departments devoted to student placements in Universities

The development of student industrial placements has led to the setting up of special departments devoted to this activity covering wide variety of tasks: legal and administrative matters, educational and evaluation aspects, industrial relations, international relations in the case of placements abroad - although these may also be managed by universities’ international departments.

 

Department

Role

France

“Service des stages” in most Schools and Universities

Managing placement agreements; setting up placement rules, files, follow-up procedures, evaluation grids; social insurance of the students; sometimes also involved in following up relations between students and companies; more rarely in charge of finding companies for student placements.

Germany

“Praktikantenamt” in all Universities

Managing placement agreements; setting up placement rules, guidelines, files; social insurance of the students; validation through certification of the placement subject and results; giving some guidance to the students to find placements but not in charge of finding placements for the students

Spain

“Unidad de Practicas” in most Universities, often linked to the careers office. Some Engineering Schools like UPM-ETSI Minas, Madrid have their own Unit

Managing industrial placements and cooperative programmes; social insurance of the students; search for placements for the students; developing evaluation rules and systems, follow-up surveys; may be associated with universities’ careers offices.

United Kingdom

Industrial Office?

Developing contacts with companies; search for placements for the students; students guidance; student placements follow-up and evaluation

0.6 - Case studies on student industrial placements in six European countries carried out by the MESIPA partnership (available in the Appendix)

·       GERMANY (Hochschule für Technik, Karlsruhe)

- Presentation of the development of Engineering studies and the system of industrial placements in Germany

- Case study on industrial placements abroad at Fachhochschule Karlsruhe

·       HUNGARY (Budapest University of Technology and Economics):

- Overview of the general situation of Engineering studies and industrial placements in Hungary

- Case study on foreign industrial placements within the engineering programmes of the French branch of the BUTE

- Case study on industrial placements in alternative engineering education

·    FRANCE (CEFI - Comité d’Etudes sur les Formations d’Ingénieurs)

- Overview of Engineering studies and the system of industrial placements in France

- Case study on evaluation of student industrial placements abroad at ENIM, Metz

- Case study on evaluation of student industrial placements at UTT, Troyes

- Case study on evaluation of student industrial placements at ENTPE, Lyon

- Case study on evaluation of student industrial placements at Ecoles des Mines, Nantes

·    SPAIN (ETSI Minas - Universidad Politecnica de Madrid)

- Presentation of Engineering Education in Spain

- Case study on the new model for industrial placements at ETSI Minas Madrid

- Case study on the development of student industrial placements at ICAI Madrid

- Case study on the management and evaluation of cooperative programmes at Universidad Politécnica de Valencia

·    SWEDEN (Lulea University of Technology)

- Presentation of Engineering Education in Sweden

- Case study on industrial placements in the final year project at LUT

- Case study on industrial placements for the Civilingenjör degree in chemical engineering and metallurgy at Lulea University of Technology

- Case study on industrial placements in mechanical and vehicular engineering at Chalmers University of Technology

- Case study on transnational engineering education : Lulea University of Technology partnership with EEIGM Nancy (+ Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and Saarbrücken University)

·    UNITED KINGDOM (Loughborough University)

- EQUIPE research work on assessment and accreditation of industrial placements in the UK

- Case study on assessment and accreditation of industrial placements through a Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) at Loughborough University

- Case study on External accreditation via City & Guilds Licenciateship at University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
 

Engineering studies and degrees

TYPE N° 1

"Worker type placement"

TYPE N° 2 "Higher Technician - Professional Engineer type placement"

TYPE N° 3 "Placement linked to the final project"

TYPE N°4 "Post-graduation - Initial Professional Development"

OTHER TYPES of placements

F

R

A

N

C

E

5-year curriculum "Ingénieur Diplômé" qualification

at Engineering Schools

Blue-collar internship

4-6 weeks often in the summer after the 1st year of studies

most often compulsory and validated in the degree

Higher Technic. internship

6-12 weeks, in the 4th year

most often compulsory and validated in the degree

Engineering internship leading to final project work (most often in industry)

3-5 months in the last year of studies - Compulsory and validated in the final degree

  

One-year sabbatical placement in industry, at engineer level, often abroad, in the last but one year of studies.
           

2 years of placements in alternative engineering programmes (NFI's); alternative systems (part- time in company part-time in Schools)also used in continuing education engineering programmes

G

E

R

M

A

N

Y

4/5-year curriculum "Diplom Ingenieur" at Technical Universities

Basic technician internship (Grundpraktikum)

8-13 weeks at the beginning of the studies, to be validated for the intermediate Degree (Vordiplom)

Specialized engineering internship (Fachpraktikum)

13-18 weeks between 5th and 8th semester, to be validated for the final Engineering Degree

Final project work

last semester of studies

most often in University laboratories (20% in firms)

    
 

4-yr. curriculum

"Diplom Ingenieur FH"

at Universities of Applied Sciences (FH)

Basic technician internship (Grundpraktikum)

3rd semester - 19-22 weeks, to be validated for the intermediate Degree

Specialized engineering internship (Fachpraktikum)

20-26 weeks at the 5th or 6th semester, compulsory and validated

Final project work, most often in industry in the 8th semester of studies

    

H

U

N

G

A

R

Y

5-year curriculum

"Diploma Engineer (university)"

(considered equivalent to MSc degree in Engineering )

Worker type placement

1 month in the summer

(in semesters 1-4)

Evaluation : written, oral report, no credit points.

Obligatory or optional depending on type of training .

Engineering placement

3-5 months (in semesters 5-9)

Evaluation : 0-30 credit points depending on type of training .

Optional

Final Diploma work in company in 10th semester.

Evaluation : 30 credit points

Optional

  

New programmes of alternative (sandwich type) engineering education includes 2 semesters (8th, 10th) in-company training.
 

3-year curriculum

"Diploma Engineer (college)" (considered equivalent to BSc degree in Engineering)

3/5-year curriculum

"Diploma Technical Manager"

  

Specialized engineering internship, 6-8 weeks in summer after the 2nd semester of studies.

Obligatory or optional depending on colleges.

Final project work most often in industry (3-year training).

Final project is obligatory in industry or banking in the 7th semester (3/5-year training).

    

S

P

A

I

N

5-year curriculum

"Ingeniero" qualification at "Escuelas Tecnicas Superiores de Ingenieria" integrated within Universities

The worker type placement does not exist in Spain at the University level

This type of placement usually takes place in the summer between the last and last but one year of studies and is most often optional (although there are exceptions with manadatory status, as in UPM Madrid ETSI Minas)

This type of placement usually takes place after the completion of the last year of studies. It has a voluntary and extra-academic status.

In the last years, Master type programmes often include placement periods in companies, although this involves a legal loophole

 
 

3 yr. curriculum

"Ingeniero Técnico" qualification at "Escuelas Universitarias de Ingenieria Técnica" integrated within Universities

The worker type placement does not exist in Spain at the University level

This type of placement usually takes place in the summer between the last and last but one year of studies and is most often optional

This type of placement usually takes place after the completion of the last year of studies. It has a voluntary and extra-academic status.

In the last years, Master type programmes often include placement periods in cies, although this involves a legal loophole

  

S

W

E

D

E

N

4/5-year curriculum Civilingenjör degree at Universities of Technology

Blue-collar internship

12 weeks minimum often in the summer

compulsory

6-12 month industrial placement, in addition to the 4/5 years, specific to Lule TU in certain pro-grammes, eg.Chemical Eng. and Industrial Design

validated for the Degree

Final-year project mostly conducted in industry

20 weeks, reported in a thesis

    
 

3 year curriculum

Högskoleingenjör degree at Univ. of Technology + University Colleges

Blue-collar internship

6-12 weeks

compulsory in most curricula

  

Project work in industry?

    

U

N

I

T

E

D

K

I

N

G

D

O

M

M.Eng degree at Universities

4-year curriculum

5 years if with "sandwich year"

Not normally in UK universities as formal placements.

- sometimes as informal vacation work at individual student's initiative

- note, however that "Engineering Applications" is a required element within degree programmes.

Optional 1-year engineering placement as the 3rd year of M.Eng or B.Eng sandwich programmes.

Placements accredited:

- through a separate award such as the DIS (Diploma of Industrial Studies) of Loughborough University

- or with particular mention in the degree certificate

Some intensive 4-year M.Eng programmes have an industrial experience component validated within the degree credits.

Project work in industry is often an optional possibility for M.Eng final projects.

3-4 years of practical experience in industry, after the B.Eng or M.Eng, claimed by individual's reports or via approved Company schemes and accredited by Professional Institutions, as a component of application for Chartered Engineer (C.Eng) status.

 
 

BEng degree at Universities

3-year curriculum

4 years if with "sandwich year"