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UNITECH Programme• Are you on-track for a first class MEng degree?
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Further Information and FAQs
UNITECH Exchange
At the core of UNITECH’s activities is an exchange year for students at a university abroad with a mixture of engineering and management-oriented courses as well as an internship with one of the Corporate Partners. The year is completed with three individual coaching events for high-level personal development: UNITECH’s Joint Modules. These are focused on the acquisition of specific business know-how, social competence and the capacity for multicultural understanding. This combination of practical experience, the Joint Modules and study abroad is unique in Europe.
The Academic Partners
The academic excellence of the programme is ensured by the quality of its member universities: leading engineering institutions. They provide UNITECH students with a vast range of state-of-the-art courses in engineering and management. But there is more than outstanding academic reputation, which characterises UNITECH Academic Partners. They all share an international orientation, strong links with industry and, most of all, the vision to continuously innovate engineering education. The following institutions are academic partners of the UNITECH network in October 2010:
• Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona
• Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg
• Politecnico di Milano
• Ecole Centrale Paris
• Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
• Trinity College Dublin
• Loughborough University
The Corporate Partners
UNITECH also unites multinational corporations which have a need for technical graduates. Besides their leading position in their industry, they share the commitment to take an active role in educating tomorrow’s management potential. They provide students with demanding internships giving insight into management and in the Joint Modules corporate lecturers pass on first-hand experiences. The Corporate Partners are not just sponsors, but are seen and see themselves as stakeholders and they take an active role in further programme development. The following corporate partners participate in the UNITECH network in October 2010:
• Acer
• Agbar
• Enel
• Eon
• Evonik
• Hilti
• Holcim
• Infineon
• Lhoist
• Schindler Elevators
• Schott AG
• Siemens
• SKF
• Vodafone
• Voith
Selection of Participating Students
The UNITECH programme is targeted at the best students, both from an academic as well as from a soft skills point of view. To ensure the high quality of our participants we have a very strict and elaborate selection process. This process takes place at each university and involves both the Academic and the Corporate Partners. Each Academic Partner make a pre-selection and, if your application is approved, you will be invited for an assessment day where corporate assessors evaluate your soft skills and personal goals for the UNITECH exchange. The next assessment day will be at Loughborough on Thursday 17th February 2011.
Explanation of Programme
When selected for the programme, all students come together for a Start-Up Week course. During the Academic Exchange at a UNITECH university the students follow engineering and management courses. In the middle of the one-year programme, all students complete a second management module, the Mid-Term Week. The UNITECH internship with one of the Corporate Partners complements the theory with insights into management in a technical context. At the end of the UNITECH year, all students come together for a third joint course, the End-of-Year Event. After the completion of all the UNITECH requirements and the degree of their home university, the students graduate from UNITECH and will receive their UNITECH Degree. They are then entitled to call themselves a “UNITECH Fellow”. The former participants can then become members of the UNITECH Alumni Association.
Academic Exchange
During the Academic Exchange period a UNITECH student studies abroad at one of the Academic Partners of the network. The Academic Exchange provides the opportunity for an intensive exchange with a different academic and national culture. For many students, a first and valuable experience with living and working in another language and outside their home country.
Students will stay at their host university usually, for at least one semester (6 months) and some can choose to stay a full academic year. They are required to follow an approved learning programme with a minimum weighting of at least 30 ECTS credits (60 Loughborough modular weight). Given the nature of the UNITECH programme these modules should include management-related areas (e.g. business finance, economics or human resources) as well as technical and engineering courses for the degree of their home university. During the Academic Exchange the UNITECH students meet regularly to exchange experiences.
Placement
The placement with one of the Corporate Partners is referred to as the UNITECH internship, and is a core element of the learning experience. During a period of at least three months and in a foreign language area, students get an insight into management in an international context. The commitment and leading position of the Corporate Partners ensures students undertake a challenging work experience in a new cultural environment. UNITECH interns will work on a project with everyday problems and challenges regarding issues such as: customer satisfaction, human interaction, leadership, human resources, innovation, finance, technology and research. This internship takes place in a foreign language area and is usually concluded with a presentation of the results to management.
The minimum duration of the UNITECH internship is three months, and has to be done with one of the UNITECH Corporate Partners. The topic for the internship can vary from a rather technical assignment to one dealing with new business development or strategic and organisational issues.
UNITECH Joint Modules
Unitech’s Joint Modules add tremendous value to the exchange through individual and group coaching and networking. The events are held at venues alternating between academic partners and focus on the building of soft skills and formulation of personal goals to realise the career aspirations of high-fliers. Each of the Joint Modules involves learning programmes consisting of lectures workshops and/or business games as well as personal coaching and feedback sessions. During the Start-Up Week students come together to be focused on the coming year and to network with others who have been selected to take part in UNITECH. The activities during the Mid-Term Week are centered around real-life corporate business problems tutored by corporate partners. The End-of-Year joint module stimulates individual reflection on the achievements of the UNITECH year as well as networking for future career opportunities and, of course, graduation and the Gala Dinner.
UNITECH Alumni Association
The UNITECH experience does not end after the UNITECH year. The UNITECH Alumni Association (UAA) is a network of young international engineering professionals who have taken part in the unique UNITECH International Programme. The Association aims to preserve the UNITECH spirit and is responsible for liaising between its members, the UNITECH International Society and its Academic and Corporate Partners.
Every year, UAA puts together a rich programme of educational and social events for its members. This includes the Spring Session as well as the Annual General Assembly held every September in conjunction with the UNITECH International Society. The Association places a great deal of emphasis on the value of networking. Members have access through the Association’s website to a database of contacts including Alumni, Companies and Universities. Furthermore, several networking events are organised throughout the year by UAA’s local chapters in eight European countries. UAA produces regular informative newsletters and joins forces with UNITECH International to release the UNITECH Magazine. Providing a link between Alumni and potential employers (Corporate Partners) is one of the most important services of the Alumni Association. A process has been devised in order to ensure an active and easy career profile matching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are places limited?
Yes, typically only 70 of the best students across Europe, with about 10 from Loughborough will be accepted each year. Loughborough was selected as the only UK university member.
Is the travel funded?
You will receive a contribution to cover your travel costs for the Joint Modules. Actual figure to be confirmed but likely to be 1500 Euros.
Is the placement funded?
A salary will be paid by the employing company and this will at least cover living expenses.
How long is the placement?
The placement is a minimum of 12 weeks but could last for up to one year. This is negotiated with the company.
Do I have to speak another language for my study?
All students are required to have a proficient knowledge of spoken and written English. Modules at Chalmers are all delivered in English. In Aachen, Zürich and Milan some or all Masters level modules taught in English are available. In Zürich some Bachelor-level modules are also available in English. At the other institutions, you will need a proficient level of the native language.
Do I have to speak another language for my placement?
For the placement, the required proficiency in the local language varies. However most Corporate Partners can offer placements where the working/corporate language is English, even though the local langauge is different.
Do I earn an additional qualification?
On successful completion you will receive a UNITECH Diploma.
Will this make a difference after graduation?
You may then become a Fellow of the UNITECH International Society and join the Alumni Association which provides a lifelong international network of contacts in academia and industry.
How do I apply?
Talk to your Programme Director and Current Unitech Students during the Question and Answer session, Thursday 18th November or 25th November 2010, 12noon-2pm, Design Studio KG221, upper floor, Keith Green Building. Then fill in an online application form http://www.unitech-international.org
