“MECOP is a win-win-win program.”
--Jim Riggs, MECOP founder

STUDENTS	INDUSTRY	UNIVERSITY
Real work experience	Input into the University’s curriculum	Industrial sites are an extension of laboratories that are not possible to maintain at the University
Two six-month internships	Improve industrial-faculty relations	Develop a bridge between education and industry
Opportunity to experience two work environments, management styles, etc.	Access to a pool of well-trained potential employees	Support toward the development of programs and other issues facing education
Learn early in their careers what an engineer really is and really does	Six-month preview of an individual without an obligation to hire	Network for faculty relations and research
Learn from experience what their academic and personal strengths and weaknesses are	Address issues or projects which full-time engineers may not have the time or skill to perform	Returning interns are more motivated students
Make more informed course selections	Inject enthusiasm and interest into the companies
Have motivation or reason to apply themselves in class	Develop or improve company’s ability to bring on new hires
Ability to finance all or a major part of his/her education	Bottom line: it’s a good business decision
Develop the ability to understand and grasp course content upon return to the University
Develop maturity and confidence
Higher starting salaries after graduation
Become highly marketable after graduating

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