Industry-Driven Power Engineering Curriculum Development in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Program

Aleksandr Sergeyev; Nasser Alaraje

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Industrial Collaboration and Applications
Tagged Division: Engineering Technology
Page Count: 9
Page Numbers: 22.869.1 - 22.869.9
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--18156
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/18156
Download Count: 348

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Paper Authors

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Aleksandr Sergeyev Michigan Technological University

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Aleksandr Sergeyev is currently an Assistant Professor in the Electrical Engineering Technology program in the School of Technology at Michigan Technological University. Dr. Aleksandr Sergeyev is earned his bachelor degree in electrical engineering in Moscow University of Electronics and Automation in 1995. He obtained the Master degree in Physics from Michigan Technological University in 2004 and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2007. Dr. Aleksandr Sergeyev research interests include high energy lasers propagation through the turbulent atmosphere, developing advanced control algorithms for wavefront sensing and mitigating effects of the turbulent atmosphere, digital inline holography, digital signal processing, and laser spectroscopy. He is also involved in developing new eye-tracking experimental techniques for extracting 3-D shape of the object from the movement of human eyes. Dr. Sergeyev is he is a member of American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and actively involved in promoting engineering education.

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Nasser Alaraje Michigan Technological University

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Dr. Alaraje’s research interests focuses on processor architecture, System-on-Chip design methodology, Field-Programmable Logic Array (FPGA) architecture and design methodology, Engineering Technology Education, and hardware description language modeling. Dr. Alaraje is currently the Electrical Engineering Technology program chair as well as a faculty member at Michigan Technological University, he taught and developed courses in Computer Engineering
technology area at University of Cincinnati, and Michigan Technological University. Dr. Alaraje
is a Fulbright scholar; he is a member of American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), a member of ASEE Electrical and Computer Engineering Division, a member of ASEE Engineering Technology Division, a member of Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and a member of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Department Heads Association (ECETDHA)

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Abstract

Industry-Driven Power Engineering Curriculum Development in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology ProgramThe power engineering industry has been experiencing a demonstrated shortage of skilled, well-trained, and educated power engineering technologists and technicians to fill positions in theelectric power industry. The root cause of this problem is two-fold. First, academic programs inpower engineering have not been educating and graduating enough students in powerengineering curriculum to address this shortage. Clearly, more needs to be done to encourageadditional capacity within programs and inspire more and more diverse students to explore thiscareer path. Second, nearly 75% of current power engineers and technologists are at or near theretirement age and will retire in the next 10 years. As a result, without coordinated and effectiveefforts, this demonstrated worker shortage will only get worse in the coming years. Industry andacademia need to work together to address this problem. The initiative described in this paperwill re-shape, expand, and enhance the current power engineering focus area in electricalengineering technology program. New courses in power electronics, power transmission anddistribution, and renewable energy will be developed providing electrical engineering technologystudents the opportunity to learn concepts and hands-on skills and will address the present andfuture needs of the power energy industry. One key factor of the proposed new courses will be torevamp the curriculum to meet the expectations of power industry by supplying qualifiedtechnicians and technologists who have extensive hands-on experience. The cross-disciplinaryelectric power system training program presented in this paper is very versatile. It is structured ina way to accommodate the needs of enrolled in the University students, employees of industrylooking to improve their knowledge in power areas, as well as students from another universitiesand colleges pursuing power education. Concept of virtual laboratory is also introduced here andprovides addition flexibility in the class’s offering strategies. Due to the rapid changes in thetechnological world, faculty involved in teaching the proposed courses must be informed ofadvances in technology currently used in the industry. On the other hand, industry wants to havequalified and well-educated employees who are ready to implement their knowledge on day oneof their employment. As a result, the initiative of power engineering curriculum developmentdescribed in this paper is industry-driven.

Citation
Format

Sergeyev, A., & Alaraje, N. (2011, June), Industry-Driven Power Engineering Curriculum Development in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Program Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18156

TY - CPAPER
AB - Industry-Driven Power Engineering Curriculum Development in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology ProgramThe power engineering industry has been experiencing a demonstrated shortage of skilled, well-trained, and educated power engineering technologists and technicians to fill positions in theelectric power industry. The root cause of this problem is two-fold. First, academic programs inpower engineering have not been educating and graduating enough students in powerengineering curriculum to address this shortage. Clearly, more needs to be done to encourageadditional capacity within programs and inspire more and more diverse students to explore thiscareer path. Second, nearly 75% of current power engineers and technologists are at or near theretirement age and will retire in the next 10 years. As a result, without coordinated and effectiveefforts, this demonstrated worker shortage will only get worse in the coming years. Industry andacademia need to work together to address this problem. The initiative described in this paperwill re-shape, expand, and enhance the current power engineering focus area in electricalengineering technology program. New courses in power electronics, power transmission anddistribution, and renewable energy will be developed providing electrical engineering technologystudents the opportunity to learn concepts and hands-on skills and will address the present andfuture needs of the power energy industry. One key factor of the proposed new courses will be torevamp the curriculum to meet the expectations of power industry by supplying qualifiedtechnicians and technologists who have extensive hands-on experience. The cross-disciplinaryelectric power system training program presented in this paper is very versatile. It is structured ina way to accommodate the needs of enrolled in the University students, employees of industrylooking to improve their knowledge in power areas, as well as students from another universitiesand colleges pursuing power education. Concept of virtual laboratory is also introduced here andprovides addition flexibility in the class’s offering strategies. Due to the rapid changes in thetechnological world, faculty involved in teaching the proposed courses must be informed ofadvances in technology currently used in the industry. On the other hand, industry wants to havequalified and well-educated employees who are ready to implement their knowledge on day oneof their employment. As a result, the initiative of power engineering curriculum developmentdescribed in this paper is industry-driven.
AU - Aleksandr Sergeyev
AU - Nasser Alaraje
CY - Vancouver, BC
DA - 2011/06/26
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Industry-Driven Power Engineering Curriculum Development in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Program
UR - https://peer.asee.org/18156
DO - 10.18260/1-2--18156
ER -