Experiential Learning (EL) or Co-operative Education is a program that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with work experience in participating employer organisations. It is a compulsory component of the ND and constitutes essentially 1/3 of the qualification. It is a formal subject with outcomes and has to be controlled and managed accordingly.
It is necessary to register for each component and a fee is payable. The Head of Department or his/her designate will approve or reject the proposed registration.
The student submits all the evaluations and a detailed report, as part of the log book, to the NMMU. The content of this report is outlined in the guidelines. If deemed necessary by the Department’s assessors, the student will need to present the work orally.
This booklet gives an outline of the experiential training required for Mechanical Engineering Technicians. It is intended to serve as a guide and as a log-book in which the trainee can note their progress.
or B Eng), or formal professional qualification (e.g. Reg. Eng. Technician, Pr
Technician, Pr Tech.(Eng) or Pr Eng), or a training position in the company.
It is recommended that experiential training agencies, which have well-structured training programmes in place, have these programmes accredited by the NMMU. The NMMU and the agency will then agree on suitable monitoring and evaluation procedures.
Upon enrolment, every NMMU student becomes subject to the rules and regulations of the NMMU. As MEP1 and 2 is registered with the NMMU, it implies that students remain bound by NMMU rules and regulations, even during experiencial learning. It also implies that they are mutatis mutandis subject to any rules and regulations laid down by the company where any training is done. Students are advised, in their own interest, to study such rules. Brochures on rules and regulations for NMMU students are obtainable from the Faculty Officer.
The ultimate objective of the course is to develop the skills necessary to perform basic machining, fabrication, assembly and maintenance. As stated before, this component focuses on developing hand skills by participating in physical activities in an artisan work environment.
Specific objectives are:
• use of hand tools in mechanical engineering.
• use of machines for material removal.
• use of welding equipment.
• maintenance of a variety of machines.
• understanding the engineering activities of a select company.
The intended applications of the skills in employment and further studies are:
• reconciling academic knowledge with practice.
• preparation for further engineering studies.
• preparation for further engineering responsibilities in future employment. The following are essential aspects of this course:
• basic and safe competency in use of lathe, milling machine, drill press, thread cutting, fasteners and welding equipment.
• involvement in practical hands-on technical activities in the company
These aspects will be evaluated against the objectives given above and outcomes stated on page 1. It is recommended that the NMMU be consulted before planning the practical schedule, to verify that the proposed content is likely to be acceptable. As stated before, the minimum period is 800 hours on the job (lunch hours etc. are not counted), which is typically about 20 to 24 weeks.
CONTENT AND GUIDELINES TO THE SCOPE OF WORK
The following syllabus describes proposed scope of work that may be covered in this component of training, depending on available facilities:
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Possible categories of activities
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Tasks
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Induction, orientation and safety.
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Introduce learner to the Company, Industry, working environment and safety policies. (see note 1)
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Hand and Machine tools
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Basic practical training in the workshop environment. Acquiring skills and experience in machine application and utilization, fabrication, industry codes and standards and safety requirements per the OHS Act. (see note 2)
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Maintenance, installations and modifications
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Learner performs repairs, maintenance, installations and modifications on a variety of engineering equipment and environments. (see note 3)
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Process, machine control, and monitoring.
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Learner operates and controls machines, production and other processes.
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Mechanical testing of materials, equipment testing and process testing.
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Learner prepares specimens and equipment for testing and evaluations to standards and codes of practice. General lab work. (see note 4)
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Non-destructive testing.
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Learner performs visual inspections, magnetic particle, dye penetrant, radiographic, ultrasonic, hydrostatic and leak testing to typically ASNT (or equivalent) level I competence.
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Notes:
1. Induction and Safety
1.1. The learner must prepare a written report on the Company description, e.g.
• Background and company history
• Business and engineering activities of the company
• Structure of the organisation
1.2. The learner must prepare a written report on Legal knowledge and Safety.
Typically, this would contain a summary of the Labour Relations Act and OSH Act applicable to his /her work environment. A NOSA Safety certificate would be adequate in lieu of the safety report.
2. Hands and Machine Tools
Acquire skills and experience in as many of the following operations as possible:
2.1. General Hand tools.
2.2. Measuring tools and metrology.
2.3 Machine operations:
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Lathes (e.g. General and precision turning, thread cutting –inner/outer, boring, knurling)
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Milling (e.g. Blocking-off, pocket, slot, boring)
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Drilling and tapping.
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Grinding (Surface, precision
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Shaping
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Boring
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Broaching
2.4. Joining technologies:
• Fasteners
• Welding
• Brazing
• Soldering
2.5. Electrical technologies:
• Basic electrical wiring and circuits
• Types of AC and DC motor
• Types of motor starters and controls
• Instrumentation and process control
2.6. CNC Applications
2.7. Spray painting
3. Maintenance, installations and modifications
Some of the following areas (but not limited to) may be available, depending on the company of employment:
• Steam plant
• Refrigeration
• Air-conditioning
• Ventilating systems
• Internal combustion engines
• Pumps
• Piping systems
• Turbines
• Compressors
• Conveyer systems
• Lifts and hoists
• Lubricating systems
• Filters
• Pneumatics and hydraulics
• Mechanical and fluid couplings
• Gearboxes and power transmission units
4. Material, equipment and process testing.
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Mechanical testing such as tensile, torsion, bend, impact, fatigue and hardness surveys.
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Photo micro and macrographs.
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Chemistries.
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Emission testing.
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Sound and noise testing.
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Strain gauging and stress measurements.
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System and process testing and evaluations as would be found in note 3.
The important aspect of this part of the training is to gain practical and hands on experience of a variety of mechanical systems. Administrative activities within the company (including sales, stores, orders and other office based functions) may be performed to a maximum of 0.15 of the total time.
GUIDELINES FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRACTICE 2 (MEP2)
OBJECTIVES
The ultimate objective of this component is to develop the skills necessary to function as a Technician in an engineering team. Such skills include creative thinking, project definition, independent and accountable work, technical experience and team work.
Specific objectives are:
• Reconciling academic knowledge with practice.
• Development of responsibility and accountability.
• Development of technical knowledge.
• Development of critical cross field skills.
The intended applications of the skills in employment and further studies are:
• Employment as a Technician.
• Foundation for advanced engineering studies.
These aspects will be evaluated against the objectives given above and outcomes stated on page 1. It is recommended that the NMMU be consulted before planning the practical schedule, to verify that the proposed content is likely to be acceptable. As stated before, the minimum period is 800 hours on the job (lunch hours etc. are not counted), which is typically about 20 to 24 weeks.
CONTENT AND GUIDELINES TO THE SCOPE OF WORK
As mentioned earlier, MEP2 requires a much higher level of synthesis, responsibility and accountability than MEP1. The student needs to be given responsible tasks to perform. The following proposed syllabus describes scope of work that would be deemed suitable for this component of training, depending on available facilities:
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Possible categories of activities
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Tasks
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Induction, orientation and safety.
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Introduce learner to the Company, Industry, working environment and safety policies. If there is a change in employer or training provider. (see note 1 in MEP1 guideline)
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Design or development.
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Learner must formulate, select and design components and systems.
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Draughting and detailing.
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Learner must develop working drawings to applicable
International standards using CAD.
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Production.
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Learner must plan, manage and control production activities and resources.
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Process control.
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Learner must develop control strategies and management systems.
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Quality assurance/Quality control.
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Learner must design and develop appropriate quality systems and procedures to ISO 9000 or other applicable Code of Practice.
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Installation and commissioning.
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Learner must plan, organise, monitor and trouble shoot projects to set specifications.
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Maintenance and modifications.
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Learner manages repairs, maintenance, installations and modifications on a variety of engineering equipment and environments.
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Technical investigation/s.
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Learner identifies, sources related information, analysis and formulates solutions to engineering problems for e.g., the failure of a component, system or process.
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Testing and evaluation.
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Learner selects and evaluates to standards and codes of practice results and makes recommendations.
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Non-destructive testing.
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Learner selects, performs and evaluates visual inspections, magnetic particle, dye penetrant, radiographic, ultrasonic, hydrostatic and leak testing to typically ASNT level II (or equivalent) competence.
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Notes:
1. The learner works as an individual or in a team environment.
2. The learner must acquire the outcomes stated on page 1.
EVALUATION AND STUDENT REPORTS
Firstly, the learner is required to compile a company description as outlined in the content and guidelines to the scope of work for MEP1, note 1.1 and MEP2 if a change of employer occurs.
Also, the work done by the student has to be recorded by the student and assessed by the mentor regularly (the frequency being appropriate with the time frame of the tasks). The documents required for this is provided for both MEP1 and MEP2 (appendix D and E, respectively), or the employer's documentation may be used (if suitable and agreed to by the Department). At the end of each 800hour component of training, the student must submit a complete logbook with applicable reports and assessments to the NMMU. A cover page for the logbook is attached (appendix B). The reports and assessments must be signed by both student and mentor.
The contents of the MEP2 reports must include the following for each and every project, work, activity undertaken (see appendix E for typical format):
1. Title of project, activity or task and duration in accumulated time.
2. Your specific job function or title.
3. A specific detailed technical description of the project, work, activity or task.
4. Your personal responsibility and degree of independent work in the above.
5. Examples of engineering skills developed and application of theory. In what ways have you reconciled theoretical knowledge and practice? How have your engineering abilities developed? How have you developed personally?
6. Completed table of evaluations and appraisals.
7. Copies of motivating documents, actual reports, drawings, photo’s, certificates etc.
To “pass” this subject requires:
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A total of 800 notional hours to be completed for each component.
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Training in at least 6 (3 per MEP component of the categories listed in the guidelines to the scope of work for MEP1 and 2.
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The learner must show at least an overall average competency rating of 65% for each
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MEP component. This would be determined as follows:
Adding the number of “competent” and “superior” evaluations × 100Total number of evaluations
This would be based on all the evaluations recorded in the appendices D and E documents submitted, respectively. In the event that the learner does not meet this competency criteria, additional time would be granted to improve his/hers competencies. This would be done as per the procedure for the completion of experiential training on page 12.
In some cases, MEP1 and MEP2 training may be completed simultaneously which would be acceptable, so long as the 800 notional hours per component is met.
Students who have a formal mechanical trade qualification with sufficient experience, may document this and apply for Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) and on assessment be credited for MEP1.