Cooperation with industry in engineering education in Sweden Prof. Lennart Nilsson, Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Stockholm

Reference Nilsson, Lennart, University/Industry Interface in Swedish Engineering Education European Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 10, no 2,1985

Traditionally close collaboration between Swedish industry and universities of technology Both in research and education –Industry involvement often a prerequisite for financing of applied as well as fundamental research in engineering –Contract research and development E.g. development of a foam bubble absorber for flue gas cleaning (Alfa Laval)

Education Study visits – simplest way of collaboration –Problematic with large classes –Can be solved by dividing the class in groups and sending the groups to different companies with follow- up seminars with whole class –Requires the groups to prepare before the visit with study of the production process and preparing questions –Preparation of a report and a short presentation (PowerPoint)

Course projects Many courses are project based at all levels of the engineering curricula. 1st year –Groups of 5-10 – process description, mass and energy balances of a part of or the whole process, environmental aspects identification, propose technical solutions

Final year –Solving real problems in industry, identified by the company. Mostly in groups of 2-4 –Case study based projects A group will study a particular industrial branch Select one particular process or industry Perform CP review, often with contacts with a company.

Thesis projects Initial proposal from industry The project is developed in collaboration between the university supervisor and a contact person (supervisor) in the company Regular meetings with student and univ. supervisor and also project meetings with student and both supervisors.

Conditions Financial –Contract research Companies pay full costs for the project even with some profit for the department –Course Projects No costs for the companies Sometimes cover travel costs –Thesis No payment to the university, except travel costs Student often gets some kind of payment/salary but this is a matter between the company and the student

Legal –Often requires confidentiality agreements with both student and supervisor at the university –Sometimes the report needs to be sanforized so that no sensitive information is included in the official report –This means that confidential information is put in closed appendicies that are available only to the company and the supervisor/examiner –These appendicies are the the property of the company

Advantages of university/company cooperation For the student –Many of the thesis project lead to employment –The student does not need to take study loan during thesis (½ year) –Opportunity to find out if they would want to work at the company For the company –Gets a valuable/competent help to get a problem solved or job done that they would not have resources for –Chance to test a potential new employee –Competence development

For the university –Pedagogic advantages –Research possibilities –Competence development –Income from contract research