A new energy industry partnership accelerates engineering technology students’ workforce readiness
UNC Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering recently announced a partnership with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. A global leader in energy grid automation and protection, SEL donated state-of-the-art equipment valued at more than $200,000 to the University’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology program, the only one of its kind in the UNC System.
Students in the ETEM program will learn specific skills needed for SEL equipment used in the energy sector, giving Charlotte students a distinct competitive advantage. The donated equipment allows students to train on the same technology used by companies worldwide. This real-world exposure is crucial for preparing Niner Engineers for roles that are vital to modern infrastructure.
SEL’s equipment is considered an industry standard and is used by companies in more than 170 countries globally.
Austin Fifield, director of the ETEM program, said, “Ultimately, as professionals, these individuals will work to optimize the power grid by detecting faults, automating recovery processes and providing cybersecurity. They’ll ensure power outages are safer, less frequent and shorter in duration.”
The course, “Elements of Automation,” was rewritten using industry insight based on SEL’s donation to ensure students develop the problem-solving and application skills needed by prospective employers.
ETEM faculty recently visited an SEL manufacturing and research facilities in Washington to better understand SEL’s approach to product design and manufacturing. This on-site visit enabled faculty and SEL partners to collaborate on where future engineering technology graduates would best contribute to the company.
Andy Gould ’13, left, is an engineer with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. He is training students to work with state-of-the-art SEL equipment.
Read more at https://engr.charlotte.edu/2025/08/01/engineering-college-students-gain-edge-with-new-technology-used-in-energy-industry/.