Reflection on experience of writing guides on selection of industrial equipment (a student´s perspective)

This paper reflects on a communications project undertaken by an undergraduate engineering student as part of a 12-week work placement with a large power engineering company. The student was asked to research and write a guide for industrial automation equipment, for use within the company, on the specific topic of motors and variable speed drives. This task was open ended and the student was expected to work largely independently. In reflecting on this work, we look specifically at the uses in industry that projects like this might be applied to, particularly as a means of companies documenting procedures at the same time as training potential employees. On a second level, we examine the skills obtained by the student, not only in doing the work, but also in reflecting on it for the purposes of reporting back to her employer and school. In examining the aspects we discuss the importance to educational institutions and industry alike of this work, where students´ communication skills may be developed to include reflection as well as the usual compliment of skills, while companies involved are able to get a first look at potential employees and obtain useful documentation in the process.