IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative

IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative
Name	IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative
Formation	2011
Type	Nonprofit educational program
Headquarters	Piscataway, New Jersey
Location	Global
Leader title	Program Director
Parent organization	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power & Energy Society

IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative The IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative is a global scholarship and mentorship program administered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power & Energy Society to develop future leaders in power engineering and related fields. The Initiative links scholarship recipients with mentorship, internships, IEEE chapters, and industry partners including utilities, manufacturers, and academic institutions to foster technical expertise and professional development. Through partnerships with corporate donors, philanthropic foundations, and IEEE Foundation, the Initiative emphasizes workforce development, diversity, and retention in the electric power workforce.

Overview

The Initiative provides scholarships, mentoring, career coaching, internship placements, and community engagement for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in electrical engineering, electrical power engineering, and allied disciplines. It operates in coordination with IEEE-USA, regional IEEE sections, university student branches, and professional societies to connect recipients with employers such as General Electric, Siemens, Eaton Corporation, Schneider Electric, and ABB. The program aligns with workforce initiatives from organizations like U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, World Bank, and regional development banks to address skills gaps in transmission, distribution, generation, and grid modernization.

History and Development

The Initiative was launched amid concerns about a retiring workforce in the electric utility sector and the need for skilled engineers to advance smart grid and renewable energy integration. Early development involved consultations with academic partners such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Michigan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Georgia Institute of Technology to design curricula and experiential learning. Funders and advocates included corporations like Exelon, Duke Energy, Southern Company, and philanthropic bodies such as the IEEE Foundation and corporate social responsibility programs from multinational firms. The Initiative evolved alongside international efforts including collaborations with International Energy Agency, CIGRE, International Electrotechnical Commission, World Energy Council, and regional utilities across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Program Structure and Eligibility

Eligible candidates are typically undergraduate students enrolled in accredited programs at institutions such as Purdue University, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and international universities including Tsinghua University, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, University of São Paulo, and University of Cape Town. The program emphasizes students from underrepresented groups and those pursuing tracks in power systems engineering, energy storage, power electronics, and control systems. Selection criteria involve academic performance, demonstrated leadership through IEEE student branches, participation in competitions like IEEE Power & Energy Society Student Contest, IEEE PES Student Design Competition, and involvement with community programs supported by partners such as Engineers Without Borders and Society of Women Engineers.

Benefits and Activities

Recipients receive tuition support, stipends, mentorship from professionals at organizations such as National Grid, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Iberdrola, RWE, and E.ON, and structured internships at corporations and research labs like Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and university research centers. Activities include technical workshops on power system protection, HVDC transmission, microgrids, distributed generation, and demand response led by experts from IEEE Standards Association, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and industry partners. Scholars participate in conferences such as IEEE PES General Meeting, CIGRE Session, DistribuTECH Conference, and IEEE Power & Energy Conference at Illinois.

Selection Process and Governance

Governance includes oversight by committees drawn from IEEE Power & Energy Society leadership, the IEEE Foundation, corporate sponsors, academic advisers from institutions like Imperial College London and Delft University of Technology, and representatives from utilities and research organizations. Application review panels evaluate candidates using rubrics that weight academic merit, leadership, community service, and alignment with sponsor workforce needs. Final selection incorporates interviews with representatives from sponsors including TPG Capital-backed entities, multinational utilities, and philanthropic donors. Program evaluation metrics are informed by workforce studies from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, International Renewable Energy Agency, and regional labor-market analyses.

Impact and Outcomes

The Initiative reports increased retention of scholars in the power sector, placement rates with employers including Siemens Energy, Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, Mott MacDonald, and diverging career paths into research at institutions like Princeton University and ETH Zurich. Outcomes include enhanced diversity through partnerships with National Society of Black Engineers, Latinx Engineer organizations, and Association for Women in Science, improved graduate school enrollment for recipients at institutions such as Columbia University and University of Cambridge, and contributions to projects involving smart meter rollouts, renewable integration pilots, and transmission planning. Independent evaluations reference metrics from IEEE Standards Association and workforce reports by U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Partner Organizations and Funding

Funding and partnerships span corporations, foundations, utilities, and academic institutions: donors include General Electric, Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Exelon, Duke Energy, Southern Company, National Grid, Iberdrola, E.ON, RWE, corporate foundations, and the IEEE Foundation. Program delivery partners include universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, research labs including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, and nonprofit collaborators like Engineers Without Borders USA and National Society of Professional Engineers. Multilateral and governmental partners contributing technical guidance include International Energy Agency, World Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and regional regulators in Europe and Latin America.

Category:Scholarships