Developing Power Engineering Education and Learning for Next-generation Smart Grid Workforce

Nourhan E. Elatky; Jenny Nguyen Hoang; Mason Elwell; Ronan Connor Harkins; Juan M. Cruz; Jie Li

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Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Disciplinary Engineering Education Research – Session 2
Tagged Division: Educational Research and Methods Division (ERM)
Page Count: 20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--42280
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/42280
Download Count: 282

Paper Authors

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Nourhan E. Elatky Rowan University

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Nourhan El-Atky is a Graduate Research Fellow in Experimental Engineering Education at Rowan University. She received her Mechanical Engineering BS degree in 2018 from Egypt. She received her Master degree in Engineering Education at Rowan University.

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Juan M. Cruz is an assistant professor in the Experiential Engineering Education Department at Rowan University. He has a B.S. in Electronic Engineering and a Masters in Education from Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and a PhD in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech. His research uses a systems perspective to understand the dynamics of the academic system and how it influences faculty motivation to change, undergraduate students’ motivation to learn, and retention and persistence of doctoral students (with special attention to underrepresented minority (URM) students).

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Jie Li Rowan University

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Jie Li is an Associate Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Rowan University. She received her Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in 2012. Before she joined Rowan, she worked as an Assistant Professor of Clarkson University, application engineer of General Electric Energy Management, and research engineer of IBM Research Lab. Her research lies in the planning, operation, and control of power systems, with particular interests in the modeling and optimization of large-scale electricity transmission and distribution systems with a deeper penetration of distributed energy resources, flexible demand-side assets, electric vehicle charging stations, and microgrids. She is also an advocator for enhancing power engineering education for the Nation’s smart grid mission.

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Abstract

Background: The U.S. electricity grid is embracing a vast transformation to support the future of renewable energy and sustainability via advanced technologies (i.e, Smart Grid (SG)). However, different sectors of the electric power industry have all felt a gap between their expectations and the qualifications of the new hires. Also, some Electrical and Computer engineering (ECE) curriculum, especially those without well-established power programs, have a shortfall in covering the industry’s current requirements, which lead to an unclearly defined pathway for ECE students to be able to attain the suitable skills for working in the SG industry.

Purpose: This paper is focused on creating a list of learning objectives based on electric power industry professionals' perspectives to assemble a curriculum that better serves the current industry needs towards the SG transformation.

Methods: This study is conducted using thematic analysis of archival data and interviews with SG industry professionals from varied sectors, positions, and roles. The research team started by reviewing archival data through different resources that focused on the core technologies of the SG. Based on this literature review, the team created an interview protocol aimed to elicit insights from SG industry professionals. As a result of four conducted interviews, the team used the “Dedoose” application to develop 168 codes that were then developed into a codebook of 16 codes with their implicit definitions. Subsequently, the codes and excerpts analysis were used in creating six major learning objectives that are essential to SG industry professionals.

Results: An initial objective list with six major objectives was created to serve as a starting point for the development of the ECE curriculum. The most crucial objectives include technical skills like hands-on experience with smart-grid systems and professional skills in project management and teamwork. As well as key SG knowledge bases, such as energy storage, cybersecurity, renewables, etc.

Conclusion: The transformation of the electric power grid to SG is underway, and its importance to the healthy operation of the entire society is becoming well recognized and much needed during this era. The demand for a sustainable ECE curriculum and a skillful engineering workforce are together required for the country’s development in the green energy sector. The results of this work provide insights into what the SG industry is expecting from freshly graduated students.

Citation
Format

Elatky, N. E., & Hoang, J. N., & Elwell, M., & Harkins, R. C., & Cruz, J. M., & Li, J. (2023, June), Developing Power Engineering Education and Learning for Next-generation Smart Grid Workforce Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--42280

TY - CPAPER
AB - Background: The U.S. electricity grid is embracing a vast transformation to support the future of renewable energy and sustainability via advanced technologies (i.e, Smart Grid (SG)). However, different sectors of the electric power industry have all felt a gap between their expectations and the qualifications of the new hires. Also, some Electrical and Computer engineering (ECE) curriculum, especially those without well-established power programs, have a shortfall in covering the industry’s current requirements, which lead to an unclearly defined pathway for ECE students to be able to attain the suitable skills for working in the SG industry.

Purpose: This paper is focused on creating a list of learning objectives based on electric power industry professionals&#39; perspectives to assemble a curriculum that better serves the current industry needs towards the SG transformation.

Methods: This study is conducted using thematic analysis of archival data and interviews with SG industry professionals from varied sectors, positions, and roles. The research team started by reviewing archival data through different resources that focused on the core technologies of the SG. Based on this literature review, the team created an interview protocol aimed to elicit insights from SG industry professionals. As a result of four conducted interviews, the team used the “Dedoose” application to develop 168 codes that were then developed into a codebook of 16 codes with their implicit definitions. Subsequently, the codes and excerpts analysis were used in creating six major learning objectives that are essential to SG industry professionals.

Results: An initial objective list with six major objectives was created to serve as a starting point for the development of the ECE curriculum. The most crucial objectives include technical skills like hands-on experience with smart-grid systems and professional skills in project management and teamwork. As well as key SG knowledge bases, such as energy storage, cybersecurity, renewables, etc.

Conclusion: The transformation of the electric power grid to SG is underway, and its importance to the healthy operation of the entire society is becoming well recognized and much needed during this era. The demand for a sustainable ECE curriculum and a skillful engineering workforce are together required for the country’s development in the green energy sector. The results of this work provide insights into what the SG industry is expecting from freshly graduated students.

AU - Nourhan E. Elatky
AU - Jenny Nguyen Hoang
AU - Mason Elwell
AU - Ronan Connor Harkins
AU - Juan M. Cruz
AU - Jie Li
CY - Baltimore , Maryland
DA - 2023/06/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Developing Power Engineering Education and Learning for Next-generation Smart Grid Workforce
UR - https://peer.asee.org/42280
DO - 10.18260/1-2--42280
ER -