Bachelor of Engineering Technology

This programme is made up of core and elective courses. Each will focus on the design and implementation of engineering technology and will concentrate on the development of advanced critical thinking and problem solving activities for effective troubleshooting.

Year one

• Develop skills in communication, management, mathematics, engineering science, basic electrical/electronic principles and basic engineering practices. Elective courses may be selected according to your area of specialty.

Year two

• Continue to build on your selected major. 

Year three

• Undertake an industry-based project in order to gain experience within the engineering profession.

When you graduate, you'll enter industry practice and then develop, demonstrate and maintain practical skills and professional competence.

Your graduate career has the potential to develop as follows:

1. Development stage

Enter initial employment and develop competence for independent practice under supervision.

2. Independent practice 

Practice independently as a competent engineering technologist benchmarked against the competence standard for registration as an Engineering Technology Practitioner (ETPract). You are now able to progress to Technical Membership of Engineering New Zealand (ENZ).

3. Team leadership 

Take overall responsibility for the work of a team in which you are the most expert.

4. Technical management 

Supervise the work of others who may have greater or wider competence.

5. General management 

Become involved in management at an organisational level. You may no longer be directly involved with technical engineering technology activities.

Career opportunities for engineering graduates exist in areas like research and development; technical support and application; education and communication; quality and general management; and roles in local authorities and government.

Courses 

Common compulsory courses 

Civil Engineering compulsory courses

Specialisations: Structural, Water and Water Waste, Transportation and Geotechnical.

Electives available: Geotechnical Engineering A, Highway Design & Maintenance, Traffic Engineering, Structural Principles, Special Topic, Water & Waste Engineering, Water Waste Treatment, Urban Transport Planning, Resource and Environmental Management, Project Management and Risk Management.

Mechanical Engineering compulsory courses

The Mechanical major is not constructed with specialisations but can be tailored to meet particular needs through the choice of suitable electives. 

Electives available: Engineering Management Principles, Project Management, Manufacturing Processes and Production, Engineering Mathematics 2, Energy Engineering, Mechanical Design 2, Fluids Power and Advanced Fluid Mechanics, Risk Management and Special Topic.   

Electrical Engineering compulsory courses

Specialisations: Power or Mechatronics

Electives available: Project Management Principles, Special Topic, Engineering Mathematics 2, Project Management, Risk Management, Energy Engineering and Fluid Power & Advanced Fluid Mechanics.

Note: Otago Polytechnic Engineering uses RoboDK (https://robodk.com) for simulation and offline programming of industrial robots

Electrical Engineering compulsory courses for Mechatronics specialisation

Electrical Engineering compulsory courses for Power specialisation

Skills you'll gain

As a graduate of this programme, you'll be able to: 

• Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural science, engineering fundamentals and an engineering specialisation as specified in SK1 to SK4 respectively to defined and applied engineering procedures, processes, systems or methodologies.
• Identify, formulate, research literature and analyse broadly defined engineering problems reaching substantiated conclusions using analytical tools appropriate to the discipline or areas of specialisation (SK1-SK4).
• Design solutions for broadly defined engineering technology problems and contribute to the design of systems, components or processes to meet specified needs with appropriate consideration for public health and safety, cultural, societal, and environmental considerations (SK5).
• Conduct investigations of broadly defined problems; locate, search and select relevant data from codes, databases and literature (SK8), design and conduct experiments to provide valid conclusions.
• Select and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and IT tools, including prediction and modelling, to broadly defined engineering problems, with an understanding of the limitations (SK6).
• Demonstrate understanding of the societal, health, safety, legal and cultural issues and the consequent responsibilities relevant to engineering technology practice and solutions to broadly defined engineering problems (SK7).
• Understand and evaluate the sustainability and impact of engineering technology work in the solution of broadly defined engineering problems in societal and engineering contexts (SK7).
• Understand and commit to professional ethics and responsibilities, and norms of engineering technology practice (SK7).
• Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader in diverse teams.
• Communicate effectively on broadly defined engineering activities with the engineering community and with society at large, by being able to comprehend and write effective reports and design documentation, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear instructions.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of engineering management principles and apply these to one’s own work, as a member or leader in a team and to manage projects in multidisciplinary environments.
• Recognise the need for, and have the ability to engage in independent and life-long learning in specialist technologies.  

This programme is a collaboration between the New Zealand Metro Polytechnics. The skills outlined above have been developed by the International Engineering Alliance and have been adopted under the Sydney Accord.