James Vause, BEng (Hons) Electrical Engineering and Power Electronics
James studied his BEng part-time at LSBU whilst working in industry, and here he reflects on some of the challenges and highlights of the courseJames started his journey at LSBU on the BTEC HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and then progressed on to the BEng (Hons) Electrical and Power Electronics after two years. Throughout his time at LSBU, James was also working as an electrical building services engineer, so he found that the course content supported and complimented his professional progression. "This course has already opened doors in my professional career development and helped me to progress through the various stages of management," says James.
Course structure
"The course was very well structured across each year with varied modules covering the key areas within building services," says James. "Each module had a separate supporting laboratory session which was particularly interesting - we proved the theory and saw the different practical applications in practice."
I thought the group working in the laboratory modules worked really well and I was able to bounce ideas around and experiment with members of the class and discuss different opinions on theory and operation.
James Vause
Theory into practice
"I was able to use design calculations and theory studied in the core electrical modules through projects at work," says James. Types of projects James typically works on include large temporary event generator supplies, sizing generators and transformers to support loads, power factor correction issues and general maintenance and engineering problems including fans, motors, UPS systems, inverters and core building related services.
Supportive lecturers
"The lecturers and laboratory sessions were delivered well and the lecture notes always very useful when interpreting the subject. Across all the modules lecturers were very helpful and responded well to any queries or questions on the subject and often crossed over on topics to go above and beyond to help students. This support can make all the difference, especially if you are studying part-time, as it can sometimes be difficult to balance work and study."
LSBU was a great university to study at with a good reputation within the engineering division and I would most definitely recommend this course to anyone looking to pursue a career in electrical engineering, particularly within the building services sector.
James Vause