M. Watson, E. John, B. Aufderheide, N. Hanif and K. Singh Process Engineering

1. Evolution and Implementation of Industrially-Oriented Capstone Design Projects at the University of Trinidad and Tobago M. Watson, E. John, B. Aufderheide, N. Hanif and K. Singh Process Engineering University of Trinidad and Tobago Point Lisas, T&T ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

2. Outline • Process Engineering & Capstone Design Projects • UTT Backdrop • Evolution of Capstone Design Projects • Implementation - Current Model • Successes • Future Growth • Acknowledgements ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

3. Process Engineering & Capstone Design Projects • Process Engineers (a.k.a. Chemical Engineers): • Focus on design, operation and maintenance of chemical and other process manufacturing activities • Involved in developing new processes, project engineering and troubleshooting • Capstone design projects: • Offered toward end of engineering degree • Pulls together all principles taught and bring them to life through an applied engineering project ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

4. UTT Backdrop • Evolved from a government mandate to transform Trinidad & Tobago Institute of Technology (TTIT) into a full-fledged university • UTT increased exponentially in its first few years: • 15 programmes, 1,417 students in 2004 • >80 programmes, >10,000 students at present ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

5. UTT Backdrop • Continuing aim of the PE programme: “To provide highly trained personnel that can serve the needs of the national chemical and process industry (CPI)” • CPI cornerstone of T&T economy - contributes towards 40% of GDNP, >80% of exports ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

6. Evolution • Capstone project methodology has evolved with the programme • Group 1 – part-time students, working, mature; taught mainly by part-time staff ; students formulate capstone projects with their employers • Group 2 – full-time students, A Level or NETD graduates; taught by full time & part time staff; relied on faculty for capstone projects • Group 3 – students and faculty identical to Group 2; concept & approach for capstone project different, driven by need to develop a more ‘hands-on’ graduate ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

7. Source of Project • Group 1 students working in industry • More Group 3 projects done with industry than Group 2 • Renewed faculty effort to source projects from CPI ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

8. Projects with Liaisons & CDAs • Industry liaison: • Improves relevance of project outcomes • Essential feedback at crossroads • Students empowered by real, industry problems • CDAs: • Success as industry, faculty committed • Significant depth of analysis ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

9. Role of Industry Liaison • Liaison as Evaluator: • Opportunity to directly influence Process Engineering graduates entering employment market • Gives students insight into expectations of future employers ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

10. Assessment Types • Groups 1 & 2 - Traditional assessment with final written report , oral presentation • Assesses technical ability, recognition of contribution. • Group 3 assessment focussed more on: • technical writing skills e.g. executive memos, written reports • oral communication - regular faculty, industry presentations • teamwork through performance of 360 Peer reviews • Broadening assessment types - complete evaluation ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

11. Assessment Frequency • Continuous assessment transforms capstone project to a valuable learning tool • Deficient areas identified, improved • Intermittent or Final Only may deter industry ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

12. Deliverables • Academic: written reports, presentations • Industry: software simulations, exp data, prototypes • Students trained on advanced process simulation and analysis tools • Seamless use in projects GSTT- FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011

13. Implementation – Current Model • Faculty sold commitments, expertise to CPI • Companies expected to provide liaison to meet with team biweekly • Challenge - most companies lack a deep working relationship with programme • Suitable project not always proposed i.e. open ended, of interest to company but not on critical path requiring exacting solution ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

14. Implementation – Current Model • Students sacrificed May holiday for capstone design projects • Tremendous effort working many hours a week • Remarkable work, commitment from faculty. No longer working in isolation but as a team “The best projects not only push faculty and students alike to their utmost, but provide often surprising and stunning results to the project supervisors and corporate liaisons.” (Little & King, 2001) ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

15. Successes • Industry’s perception of programme, students gaining respect • In private presentations, students encouraged to apply for jobs • In one exceptional group, all students offered jobs immediately after conclusion of their presentation • Perhaps summarized best by one industrial corporation’s process engineer who stated that it would have taken him six months to do what the student team had done in 2 ½ months ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

16. Future Growth • Types of industry projects to be defined by student interest’s ahead of capstone project • Guidelines for industry to assist in identification of suitable projects: • Emphasize design/experimental work not just collection of published material • Teamwork required • Concrete, measurable goals ACTT- FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

17. Acknowledgements • Sincerest gratitude to past, present CPI corporations: • Petroleum Company of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd. • Unibio • Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited • Atlantic • Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited • Trinidad Cement Limited • PCS Nitrogen Trinidad Limited GSTT- FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011

18. THE END GSTT- FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011