It appears that Novi-based ITC Holdings and Michigan Technological University have created a pipeline to help stem Michigan's brain drain.
The college and the electricity transmission company, the largest independent one in the country, have formed a partnership that is helping propel Michigan Tech engineering students into jobs with ITC. So far nine students have been hired since 2005 and more hires are expected.
It's done through the university's energy conversion and power systems program. There students from the Senior Design Program partner with ITC engineers on two, 14-week semester engineering projects as part of their curriculum. ITC has been so impressed with this program that the company has donated a total of $42,750 to it since its inception.
"We are involved in this partnership because we want to ensure that the future pipeline of qualified workers in the power/utility industry remains full," says Neil Doshi, design engineer at ITC and former Michigan Tech student. "We are committed to supporting academics in the power engineering industry and have had great success so far working with graduating seniors from Michigan Tech."
ITC has been expanding its involvement with the program, paying the salaries of the program's senior undergraduate students and purchasing $100,000 worth of equipment to help students learn about the power industry.
Source: ITC Holdings
Writer: Jon Zemke
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