Mechanical engineering student David Herron is enjoying the chance to apply his learning in a real work situation before even completing his degree with Central Queensland University.

Mr Herron, whose home town is Rockhampton, is undertaking a paid work placement with Incitec Pivot\'s Gibson Island Worksin Brisbane.

He is a big supporter of CQU\'s Cooperative Engineering degree, which arranges for students to complete a year of paid work placements at industrial sites within Australia and/or overseas, as well as helping them to find paid vacation work.

\"The course structure is far better for engineering development than most southern universities, which only require 60 days of employment. With CQU, you will leave with not just an engineering degree; you will walk away an engineer.\" Mr Herron has also been impressed with the Project-Based Learning environment within CQU\'s James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems.

\"PBL has helped my personal and professional development from a student to an engineer. Working in teams on real projects that have real stakeholders, budgets, time constraints and deliverable outcomes has given me great skills and understanding of the engineering workforce,\" he said.

Mr Herron said CQU\'s facilites provided a comfortable and effective environment for learning. He said the library and its friendly staff gave good support and the engineering project studios were convenient.

\"CQU has many helpful support networks including the Mathematics Learning Centre, the Student Association and the Engineering Undergraduate Society. I found the Orientation Week programs, student mentors and Student Services division very useful in my first year of study.

\"The administration staff and facilitators are very friendly and due to the small course sizes the lecturers have more contact time for helping students.\"