Greater ties between students and industry are being sought to generate more insight on both sides through the School's front-running Center for Industry Engagement & Internship (IEI). The initiative includes wider understanding of career opportunities for engineering graduates in fields and sectors not previously targeted by the School's students, such as jobs in the financial industry.

 

IEI was set up in Fall 2012 as part of the School's emphasis on holistic learning. One major enrichment objective is to boost internship opportunities. In 2011, 32% of engineering students at the School undertook an internship. The goal of IEI is to increase this to 50% by 2015. The Center has participated in the Project "ETHICS" internship program, organized by Virtus Foundation Ltd and offering internships in Hong Kong and Mainland China research institutions and enterprises to Hong Kong university undergraduates, and the Cyberport Hong Kong-Shanghai ICT Internship Program.

 

The Center also promotes mentorship through experience-sharing with industry experts, and organizes trips to companies outside Hong Kong. Earlier this year, IEI arranged for students to visit several major companies in Silicon Valley in the US. 

 

An exchange program with Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is due to be launched later this year, with students from each institution spending time at the partner campus. In addition, a job search Android and iPhone app called Mobile IEI has been designed by the Center to streamline the latest job offerings and recruitment information for School of Engineering students. 

 

Prof Patrick Yue, Founding Director of the Center, said that IEI leveraged the School of Engineering's international reputation and the faculty’s extensive industrial connections to promote internship and recruitment. "We believe that early exposure to the professional world will broaden students' horizons and enrich their university education."