Engineering & IT Case Competition
What is the Engineering & IT Case Competition?
The competition takes place once a year and provides Engineering and Information Technology students with the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team and craft responses to a genuine industry challenge.
The Engineering & IT Case Competition provides students with an opportunity to:
- Network with industry representatives
- Be a part of a team
- Contribute ideas to a real life scenario
- Apply what you have learned in the classroom
- Sharpen your professional skills
- Develop your industry experience
- Win some great prizes!
Participate in the 2021 competition
- 2021 Case competition participation will be available in a hybrid model.
- Learn more about the competition and how to register your team.
Why take part?
Who can apply?
The 2021 Case competition will be in hybrid format so no matter where you are in the world, you can take part.
Each team can consist entirely of students in Melbourne who can attend sessions face to face, students overseas who can attend sessions virtually or a combination of both. Location is not a hindrance, we will accommodate all students and create a valuable experience for all participants.
The competition is open to multidisciplinary teams that must contain 4 or 5 students who are enrolled in any of these courses:
- Masters of Engineering
- Master of Information Systems
- Master of Information Technology
- Masters of Energy Systems
Each team must be multidisciplinary — that is, it must contain students from at least two disciplines of engineering or computer information systems, eg: structural, geomatics, electrical, chemical, mechanical, software engineering, information technology.
All teams will benefit from having a broad range of disciplines represented in their team. Students undertaking degrees other than a Master of Engineering are encouraged to have students undertaking an engineering degree within their team.
How does it work?
Once your team has registered you will be invited to attend the first workshop (see key dates below) where you will confirm your team and be presented with some invaluable information to prepare you for the case competition. This is where the case study problem will be revealed.
Note: All teams wanting to partake in the competition must participate in this event.
It is expected that all students wanting to participate in the competition make themselves available for the dates listed below. It is compulsory that you attend all workshops.
Teams will submit a two-page document in Stage 1 of the competition that addresses the Case Competition problem.
Final teams will progress to Stage 2 of the competition and are required to attend a compulsory preparation workshop. These teams will present their final presentation to a panel of industry judges.
One team will be awarded a prize and certified the winners of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) Case Competition!
Prizes
First and Second Prize will be announced at the first workshop/initial briefing session.
Finalists
Each finalist will receive a certificate of acknowledgement.
Industry contribution
This year’s case study and prize has been generously provided by Future Fuels CRC (FFCRC).
Further industry support
FFCRC consists of Participants and Partners, some of which will play an active role in this year’s case. Students will have the opportunity to engage with Industry representatives from:
Key dates
- Tuesday 17 August 2021
- 11.59am (midday) Register
Team registrations due
- Tuesday 17 August 2021
- 6.30–7.30pm Stage 1: Case Competition Outline and Initial Briefing
Representative’s from FFCRC and partners will present your team with the case competition problem, and invaluable hints and tips to succeed through the first stage of the competition.
Each team will be asked to create a response to the Case Competition question, which is due on Tuesday 31 August 2021. The submission can be either two A4 pages or one A3 page.
- Tuesday 31 August 2021
- 11.59am (midday) Stage 1: Tender bid document due
Teams will submit their two-page submission.
- Tuesday 14 September 2021
- Finalists announced
Finalist teams will be notified, progress to Stage 2 of the competition and invited along to the Stage 2 workshop.
- Tuesday 21 September 2021
- 6.15–7.45pm Stage 2: Presentation Skills Workshop
Teams will be presented an overview of the final stage of the competition and participate in a Presentation Skills Workshop to prepare them for their final oral presentation submission.
A representative from industry will be present to provide teams with industry knowledge and insights.
- Thursday 7 October 2021
- 6.00–8.00pm Final Presentation
Final teams will present to a panel of industry judges.
The winning team will be announced on the night and awarded the annual Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Trophy.
Not competing? This event is open to a live audience. This is your opportunity to hear from the finalists and gain insights from the industry judges in relation to presenting effective and professional presentations. There are also door prizes up for grab just for attending!
Register
More information
Questions about the competition can be sent to engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au.
Previous case studies and competition winners
Each competition challenge is developed in collaboration with industry.
The winning team will be awarded the perpetual trophy, take part in an onsite tour at an industry premises, and undertake a mentoring opportunity with an industry professional.
2020 competition
Winning team: The Socially-Distanced Superstars
Matthew Khowira, Simone Costello, Clive Wang, Alexandra Wigley and Miro Bell
Case summary
Teams participating in the 2020 Case Competition were required to present concept designs for an innovative and forward-thinking discrete renewable energy solution for the Parkville Station precinct, as part of the Metro Tunnel Project – the biggest ever public transport project in the state. The renewable energy design also required a community education component.
The case and prizes were generously provided by CYP Design & Construction, who will deliver the Tunnels and Stations package for the Metro Tunnel Project.
2019 competition
Winning team: T.T. Consulting
Case summary
The 2019 Case Study Competition saw student teams create a bid document that presented a innovative transport link to the Fishermans Bend Employment Precinct. Fishermans Bend is an important area of growth for population, economic, employment and education/research in Victoria. The Employment Precinct will include the new Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) campus and the transport link that the teams created needed to identify a was that guests visiting the area could enter through a impressive Innovation Precinct Gateway whilst seamlessly proceeding to the Employment Precinct.
The 2019 Case Competition was provided by WSP Australia.
2018 competition
Winning team: Loads, Diodes and Cathodes
The 2018 winning team. Left to right: Nathaniel de Bell, Master of Engineering (Mechanical), Dominique Ling, Master of Engineering (Mechatronics), Arthur Masion, Master of Engineering (Chemical), Tony Srour, Master of Engineering (Electrical).
Case summary
The 2018 Case Competition provided student groups with the opportunity to present their ideas for the repurposing and decommission of two ExxonMobil offshore platforms in the Bass Strait. Ideas were judged both on their feasibility and creativity.
The case was delivered by ExxonMobil, who also generously donated a 12 month mentoring experience and site visit to the winning team.
The 2018 Case Competition was provided by ExxonMobil.
2017 competition
Winning team: MEMB Consulting
The 2017 winning team. Left to right: Benjamin Appuhamy, Master of Engineering (Mechanical with Business); Kulaghan Kumaradevan, Master of Engineering (Biomedical); Kevin Ngo, Master of Engineering (Electrical with Business); and Vishwesh Sridhar, Master of Engineering (Mechanical).
Case summary
Student groups participating in the 2017 competition received a project brief providing some background to the FEIT Campus II project. A set of considerations and criteria were delivered by AECOM, a multinational engineering consultancy and construction firm.
Each team provided a bidding document which outlined design concepts for the Campus II project. Six teams then progressed to the finals where they presented their ideas to a panel of industry judges.
The top two teams received a 12 month mentoring experience and site visit, generously donated by AECOM and ExxonMobil.
The 2017 Case Competition challenge was provided by AECOM.
2016 competition
Winning team: Brief-case
Left to right: The 2016 winning team at the ExxonMobil site visit that they won as part of the competition: Rupert Allan, Master of Engineering (Mechatronics); Jason Lam, Master of Engineering (Chemical); Albert Chang, Master of Engineering (Mechanical with Business); Vlad Litvinenko, Master of Engineering (Biomedical with Business); and Irene Chandra, Master of Engineering (Chemical)
Case summary
Groups in the 2016 competition received a project brief asking them to review the use of an under-utilised desalination plant to supply a rural site. Within this simulated case study, a senior engineer assigned each group with the task of presenting the basic material required to bid on a call for tender for a rural water infrastructure project; the intention was to persuade a visiting division head that the team is equipped to bid for the project, and to solicit advice on how to proceed.
The student groups were presented with the case and delivered their bid presentation all on the same day, highlighting the teams adaptability and creativity in pitching their ideas.
The top team received a mentoring experience and site visit generously donated by ExxonMobil.