Students engineering solutions, connections with Mackay industry
Problem-solving CQUniversity Engineering students are on a conveyor belt to careers, thanks to industry partnerships delivering real-world project experience.
This term, 12 first-year Bachelor of Engineering students at CQUniversity Mackay are working with NEPEAN Conveyors, to develop a concept design for conveyor cleaning, and for materials testing to inform simulation software.
It’s part of the Industry Project Investigation unit in CQU’s degree, and Mechanical Engineering lecturer Dr Jay Sul says the experience is invaluable for aspiring engineers.
“Our partnership with NEPEAN Conveyors means students are using industry software, understanding industry processes, and most importantly, making connections with leaders in their community,” Dr Sul said.
“NEPEAN Conveyors has been fostering experience for CQU students for more than two decades, and it’s creating work opportunities that benefit both our students and graduates, and the local sector.”
The Australian-owned company supplies large scale, fully-integrated mining conveyor projects for the global bulk materials handling market, with their local workshop and office only one of 59 business units globally.
Tijhe Vella-Verney is one of NEPEAN Conveyors’ representatives on the CQU project, and a second-year student in the Engineering degree.
“Prior to undertaking CQU's Industry Project (ENEG11007) during our first year of studies, I was not aware of NEPEAN or their operations,” he said.
“It wasn't until selecting and undertaking one of their projects, then having the experience to visit their Mackay facility, that the scale and critical nature of their operations became clear to our student group.
“After completing our presentation, I was offered a three-week work experience with them, which has since developed into full-time employment as an undergraduate engineer part of NEPEAN Conveyor's Research and Development (R&D) team - my time working with them made me realise that I'm definitely pursuing the right career path for me.”
Rance Barnett is NEPEAN Conveyors' Manager of Innovation and Creative Engineering, and an alumnus of CQUniversity's Engineering Co-Op program, and said he knows the value of working in industry during study.
"To be able to offer that experience and motivation to many individuals and teams for the past 20 years has been very rewarding for me personally, and our business has benefited from the projects that the students have completed," he said.
"Being involved with the university students from their first year onwards has given us the ability to seek out future talent. Engaging them in interesting and rewarding projects is a great way to recruit our future stars, and also make sure that the NEPEAN name is at the forefront for those that graduate into other roles in our industry.
"I have enjoyed working with many CQU graduates in our business and look forward to supporting the degree well into the future”.
Tijhe said his opportunity at NEPEAN was a direct result of CQU's commitment to maintaining excellent relationships with industry partners, and he was one of several undergraduate engineers who work and study full-time.
“I don't know of many other places where a first-year student can receive full-time employment in their desired field whilst still having the opportunity to maintain full-time study,” he said.
Tijhe is working with the students to do hands-on testing on a newly fabricated test rig, and record results in simulation software.
On Friday 13 September, the group attended the Resources Centre of Excellence in Paget with NEPEAN Conveyors team members, to help grow students’ experience through the underground mining training simulator.
CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Engineering is a four-year degree, available in Mackay, Rockhampton, Cairns, Bundaberg and Gladstone, and online.
Learn more, and apply to study in 2025, at CQU Engineering.
