A "Year in Industry" is a 12 month placement for undergraduates to gain practical knowledge in their chosen sector.
In the UK, less than 30% of students undertake work placements, this is significantly low in contrast with the European average of 55% and especially France 70% and Germany 80%.
Those employers who provide an opportunity for students to undertake a year in industry have a very positive attitude to the concept. Sandwich courses are widely respected by contractors, consulting engineers, manufacturers, health authorities, local authorities, government departments and professional bodies such as:
- The Institution of Civil Engineers
- The Institution of Engineering and Technology
- The Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- The Institution of Structural Engineers
- The Royal Aeronautic Society
Employers recognise the mutual benefits to be gained by giving students the chance to learn within a working environment before they graduate and begin their full-time careers. After graduating many students secure their first full-time employment as a result of their performance during a sandwich course training period. We often receive positive feedback from companies reporting that the students quickly adapt to their working environment and adopt high standard of professional behaviour. The manner in which they blend with their colleagues can make it easy to forget that they are still infact undergraduates.
Where supervised work experience is an integral part of an engineering degree course, it affords the opportunity to gain a more balanced perspective of the chosen profession.
