The long-standing relationship between QUT and leading global car and motorcycle manufacturer BMW Group and its subsidiaries continues to provide life-changing opportunities for engineering and design students.
With a number of students in the final weeks of six-to-nine-month internships in Germany and the United Kingdom, a further 11 are about to undertake their real-world adventure and applications are still open for more students to take up the opportunity.
The collaboration began in 2016 and was cemented with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 which has fostered the development of joint projects between BMW and QUT, an internship program for QUT students across different faculties to undertake research projects in BMW facilities in Germany and elsewhere, higher degree research, staff exchanges, research collaborations and more.
The 2024 engineering intake includes Isabel Mathers, a computer and software systems major. She will begin her internship in July and three others QUT students – Dylan Rudkowski (electrical engineering major, computer and software systems second major), Martin Tran (electrical engineering major, computer and software systems second major, and Keeley Murphy (applied and computational mathematics major) – will head to BMW’s Regensburg plant in March.
Regensburg is famous for its state-of-the-art, innovative working operations, which include the use of artificial intelligence in production processes. Last year it became the automotive industry’s first plant worldwide to use an end-to-end digitalised and automated process for inspection, processing and marking of painted vehicle surfaces in standard production.
Isabel was inspired to apply for the internship when she heard about it while in Germany completing a short-term exchange through QUT.
“I am very excited to join the BMW internship program. It is a fantastic opportunity to not only work at a globally recognised company and brand but also explore different cultures. I can't wait to continue learning in a new environment,” Isabel said.
“Working for BMW will be incredibly valuable for my career in software engineering. BMW prides itself on innovation and I am looking forward to making meaningful contributions in a renowned company.”
QUT double degree student (engineering and design) Kilian Frunz has just completed his engineering internship at Regensburg and in February, commences a design internship with BMW subsidiary IDEALworks in Munich.
“Beyond the work itself at Regensburg, which allowed us to have tangible and meaningful impact on projects ranging from bespoke solutions to world-wide platforms, the chance to be exposed to the innerworkings of a global production system was unbelievable,” said Kilian, who plans a career in the sustainability and impact sectors, looking specifically at how innovation and design can transform companies and communities.
“The scale, precision and commitment to quality was unlike anything we had seen before. Travelling between plants and learning about the production philosophies and plant design, and how this reflected BMW's commitment to transformation and innovation is something that will always stick with me.
“While I chose to attend QUT specifically for the industry focus and practical philosophy, I would never have expected it to take me to the other side of the world to work with a company like BMW.
“Being both an Engineering and Design student has allowed me to make the most of opportunities from both faculties, while exploring what it can look like when we begin to combine the best elements of each discipline in practice.”
Associate Professor David Holmes from the QUT School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering has been instrumental in working with the QUT motorsport team to build the advanced manufacturing connections with BMW and QUT.
“The partnership QUT has forged with the BMW Group has led to some extraordinary experiences for our engineering students with these internships offering them a springboard into their post-university careers,” Professor Holmes said.
“It has also resulted in research collaborations that have seen new innovations adopted by BMW and enhanced QUT’s global reputation in this space.”
Associate Professor Rafael Gomez from the QUT School of Design, who have had a close partnership with BMW through the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy, said that seven design students will begin their internship for 2024 taking up positions with BMW Group and IDEALworks, an arm of BMW focussed on the development of autonomous systems and robots to create smart transport logistics for the factory floor.
Kilian Frunz, Ryan Chappel, Dillon Holmes, Grace Taylor, Darcy Duckworth, and Noah Broeckx will all be based in Munich while Stephen Terry will join the BMW Group in the United Kingdom. They follow on from nine design students who began BMW internships in 2023.
“To have such a large cohort of QUT students from both engineering and design undertaking internships with BMW is fantastic and shows just how far this collaboration has come in eight years.
“Students have had the chance to work with cutting-edge emerging technologies such as VR, AR, robotics, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and big data. Some have gone on to permanent employment but for all, it has been a transformational experience.”
Main photo: QUT BMW interns for 2024 - Top row (left to right) Dylan Rudkowski, Isabel Mathers, Keeley Murphy, Martin Tran and Kilian Frunz. Bottom row (left to right) Grace Taylor, Noah Broeckx, Darcy Duckworth, Dillon Holmes, Stephen Terry and Ryan Chappel.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
