Territory Government supports local engineers

Minister for Infrastructure Peter Styles has commended 27 Charles Darwin University engineering students who have taken advantage of the Engineering Co-op Scholarship Program to further their career.

The Engineering Co-op Scholarship program is a joint initiative of the Department of Infrastructure and Charles Darwin University. Co-operative education is a strategy of applied learning that combines an accredited academic program with periods of paid and supervised work placements on relevant projects within the Department of Infrastructure.

Mr Styles said it was great to see so many local engineering students take this opportunity to take part in this program, work with local businesses and keep their skills in the Territory.

“The program began when the demand for engineering graduates from the local industry significantly exceeded the supply. A marketing analysis carried out by the Charles Darwin University in 2007/2008 indicated a significant number of students were leaving the Territory to study engineering interstate.

“A special program was then devised to keep local engineering students in the Territory to meet industry needs and help increase local engineering capability to help facilitate industrial development over the coming decades.

“On graduation students will have accumulated a full year of industry experience which will significantly enhance their employability.”

Mr Styles said the Department of Infrastructure currently had 27 Engineering Co-op Scholarship students on the program.

The Department of Infrastructure also has five students on board who are now near completion of their six-month industry placement.

The Department of Infrastructure provides scholarship funding for each student of $15,000 a year. In total this is a $405,000 annual investment for the department. Students also receive AO2 salaries based on the annual salary of $45,286 when they participate in work placements with the department.