Benefits of MECOP

Students

Industry

University

• Real work experience
• Two six-month internships
• Opportunity to experience two work environments, management styles, etc.
• Learn early in their careers what an engineer really is and really does
• Learn from experience what their academic and personal strengths and weaknesses are
• Make more informed course selections
• Have motivation or reason to apply themselves in class
• Ability to finance all or a major part of his/her education
• Develop the ability to understand and grasp course content upon return to the University
• Develop maturity and confidence
• Higher starting salaries after graduation
• Become highly marketable after graduating

• Input into the University’s curriculum
• Improve industrial-faculty relations
• Access to a pool of well-trained potential employees
• Six-month preview of an individual without an obligation to hire
• Address issues or projects which full-time engineers may not have the time or skill to perform
• Inject enthusiasm and interest into the companies
• Develop or improve company’s ability to bring on new hires
• Bottom line: it’s a good business decision

• Industrial sites are an extension of laboratories that are not possible to maintain at the University
• Develop a bridge between education and industry
• Support toward the development of programs and other issues facing education
• Network for faculty relations and research
• Returning interns are more motivated students