Methods and Approaches for Developing the Future Leaders of the Electric Power and Energy Industries

Strong growth in the global demand for electric power is projected for the next half-century and beyond, providing tremendous opportunities for companies that are leaders in the electric power sector. They are all preparing for the impact of workforce and technology development neglect that was dominant in their industries in the 1980s and 1990s. In a landmark study from 2010 by the IEEE Power & Energy Society’s Engineering Workforce Collaborative, the need was identified nationally to double the number of electric power engineering students at the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. levels based on aging workforce demographics in the electric power sector. In a similar regional effort in 2006, the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board presented results of a study designed to raise awareness of the aging workforce issue facing Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA). Utilizing data from the U.S. Census Bureau along with a survey of 1,500 regional employees, results indicate that the vast majority of SWPA employees in energy-related areas will be eligible to retire in less than 20 years. More alarming is that there is a significant deficit of employees aged 22-34 available to replace these employees upon retiring. Universities and engineering schools across the United States are developing a new sense of purpose in the field of electric power engineering. Being driven by the aging workforce demographics in the industry a need for new innovations, as well as recent government funding for modernized educational programs and research activities, electric power is in the midst of a revolutionary period of advancement. This article presents a university program model, under development since 2007, which fosters continual classroom number growth, as well as international reputation as research partnerships develop outside the United States. A review of new and revised curriculum development at the undergraduate and graduate levels will be explained including the details of both the undergraduate and newly developed graduate certificate program within the engineering school. The greatest assessment of an undergraduate program’s effectiveness is to monitor growth in classroom numbers, number of students acquiring the certificates, and placement rate of graduating seniors. Trends of these metrics will be provided. To accommodate working professionals enrolled in the graduate certificate program, real-time distance learning principles will be explained. Not to be confused with traditional distance learning where lectures are pre-recorded, real-time distance learning allows professionals to attend lectures from any location if constrained by work related activities. Fresh, relevant, and challenging research projects funded by internationally recognized organizations and government entities has been shown to attract and solidify within the student mindset that there are critical needs and purpose. Overviews of industry and government collaborations will show how industry involvement will help drive program expansion at all levels. These program partners, who attend the university’s annual electric power industry conference (EPIC), understand the need to invest in students to get a return in their investment – that is, future employees. Growth metrics in EPIC annually are an indicator that the university program is providing a positive service to students, industry, and bridging communication between students and industry representatives to fill the needs in the electric power sector.