Innovative power Engineering Program

Paul Imbertson, an Associate Education Specialist from Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, spoke about reforming the Curricular in Electric Energy Systems at the meeting “Innovative Power Engineering Program” track.

Paul asked, “Why do we need the Reform?” There is opportunity, climate is changing, power energy is affecting regions, and Energy is a big topic now. He then presented the Electric Power Generation by Fuel types, and claimed currently there is a big push for renewable energy. He also introduced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which include investing in the Smart Grid.

Getting back to Paul’s question, he presented the aging workforce in power energy. 46% of electric utility engineering jobs could be vacated by 2012. Faculties are retiring, programs are weakening, and former strong programs are declining or ending. Hence, there is a crisis in our Undergraduate Education. Paul claimed the courses have not kept pace with the industrial practices, failed to address present and future opportunities, and power program have stagnated. To fix it, we can tap the young people enthusiasm for the environment and the future energy, and provide them the guidance.

So, University of Minnesota developed a curriculum with three core courses: Power Electronics, Electric Drives, and Power Systems. The unique of these three courses are:
1. Only three courses
2. Room for complementary courses such as analog and digital control, Analog Circuit Design, Thermodynamics.
3. Courses were carefully designed.

As a result, there was an increasing student enrollment at University of Minnesota. Over 100 schools are using the new reformed curriculum in various combinations. In addition, there are hardware laboratories in 97 University courses. And, their goal is to reach 175 schools by the end of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) grant.

For more information: www.ece.umn.edu/groups/power