Intercultural Excellence in Mechatronic Engineering Education
The Project
Dr Chris Manzie of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is the Melbourne representative of a group of three Australian universities (RMIT and Curtin) which has been awarded funding in the Sixth Round of European Union/Australia Joint Cooperation in Higher Education and Training Projects Under the International Education and Training Program. The project is to promote exchange of students in Mechatronic, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with a group of three European universities who receive funding from the European Union. The project, entitled "Intercultural Excellence in Mechatronic Engineering Education" (IEMEE), is intended to allow students to do their final year project overseas.
Purpose
IEMEE will provide the possibility for students to do an industry-oriented research project in the realm of mechatronic systems at an overseas partner institution. The students and their projects will be incorporated into the research projects of the respective host institution. This is intended to achieve a very strong integration of visiting students in the local research team, consisting of local students and staff and the gained linguistic, intercultural and technical experience maximized.
Partner Institutions
The European partner institutions at which the exchanges can occur are:
- Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany
- Technical University of Lodz, Poland
- University of Vigo, Spain
The Universities have specialisations in particular areas related to mechatronics so your choice of destination will be influenced by those specialisations, the projects available in the semester you would like to be there, the availability of other subjects in English (if you don't speak the local language well) as well as your interest in the relevant country.
- TUM: Automation focus
- Lodz: Computer science focus
- Vigo: Systems engineering focus
While you should nominate your preference and order of destination, the final decision rests with the Project Co-ordinator, Dr Manzie.
Workload
Project plus subjects to the total of 22.5 (= 37.5 UoM points) to 30 (= 50 UoM points) European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits.
Time Period
This EU/Australia Project runs for three years, commencing in 2010 and finishing at the end of 2012, and it is intended that a total of 14 students will be awarded funding for an exchange of one semester each. Five students will be sent to and received from Munich and Vigo while four will be exchanged with Lodz.
It may be possible for students who are not successful in being awarded IEMEE funding, still to go on exchange to one of the partner institution.
Funding
The funding is intended to contribute to paying the costs incurred while students are on exchange but it will not cover all expenses and students are expected to have their own additional funds. Each successful student will be awarded $7,000 for a semester of exchange. Students who fail to complete their exchange will be required to refund the money already paid to them. Students who are awarded IEMEE funding will not be eligible for funding available through Melbourne Global Mobility (MGM).
Students who do not receive IEMEE funding, can still be considered for funding through MGM.
Eligibility
Students must be at a point in their degree where they are able to complete their final project, worth 25 points, in Mechatronic, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
They will be expected to have a weighted average of 70 per cent or higher in their degree for which they will be completing their project while on exchange.
As part of their Statement of Purpose, students should also explain why they have listed the preferences in the order they have paying particular attention to the relevance of the specialisation at the host institutions to their project, study interests and even future career aspirations.
How to apply
To apply for 2011 and 2012 complete the Melbourne Global Mobility form (download from the MGM website) and forward to the Mechanical Engineering General Office, marked to the attention of Dr Chris Manzie.
For further information
Dr Chris Manzie
Tel.: 8344 6731
Email: manziec@unimelb.edu.au
More information about Mechatronics at the University of Melbourne