ETAP Donates Software Valued at nearly $125,000 to West Virginia University Institute of Technology

ETAP recently donated an ETAP power-lab software package valued at nearly $125,000 to West Virginia University Institute of Technology. This donation includes a lifetime license allowing up to 20 students to work concurrently on projects, studies, and research. ETAP’s giving program promotes the pursuit of academic excellence and the advancement of power systems studies.

“The ETAP software package is one of the leading packages used both nationally and internationally by the well-renowned electrical power systems industries,” explained Dr. Surinder Ram, professor of electrical and computer engineering, who facilitated the donation.

The academic edition of ETAP Enterprise Solution provides educational institutions with access to the latest technology for the design, modeling, simulation and operation of electrical power systems. Blending ETAP into standard power system curriculum gives students an excellent opportunity to learn and apply essential power system concepts utilizing the most sophisticated electrical engineering software package available for offline solutions.

Dr. Stephen Goodman, chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering, said, “We’re grateful for this gift since it allows us to bring more of the latest technology into our classrooms.”

Power Labs at Universities Provide Real World Experience

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Overall engineering employment is expected to grow by 11 percent over the 2008–18 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations.”  It’s expected that there will be a strong demand for electrical devices, including electric power generators, to keep job growth going, with international engineering services performed in other countries adding to worldwide growth.

Also according to the BLS, increased interest in nuclear power energy will mean a higher demand for engineers to research and develop new designs for reactors, with over 18,000 new jobs expected to open up before 2018.

What does this mean to electrical engineering students in universities around the world?  Although growth in that employment sector is expected, the best jobs in any industry always go to the most promising and qualified individuals.  The best way to rise above the rest is to graduate from a college or university that provides a curriculum and lab environment that reflects real-world problems and challenges.

Several years ago, OTI decided to do their part by working directly with accredited engineering universities around the globe. With enrollment in the power sector dwindling, the intent was to empower students with the most comprehensive power system engineering software.

Universities that have installed an ETAP Power Lab have had very high placement ratios with their engineering students upon graduation. Time and again we hear about how the Power Lab helped students reach their academic goals by providing them with the tools and knowledge to smoothly transition into the workforce by having the value-added benefit of already knowing how to use ETAP.

Engineering schools that have practical hands-on laboratory classes that focus on current engineering issues and not just generic applications will turn out better prepared design and production engineers.