MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Acting Head of Department

Engr. Dr. Paul Ogheneochuko Ohwofadjeke. (Senior Lecturer). PhD (2021, Mechanical Engineering), M.ENG (2016, Mechanical Engineering), BSc (2012, Mechanical Engineering). COREN (R50078), MNSE.

The Vision of Mechanical Engineering Department

The vision of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to be a department with the prowess to produce students who will make our university proud in creativeness and innovativeness to the full of technologically driven industrial inspiration.

The Mission of the Mechanical Engineering Department

The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to apply the international best practices in our staff to educate our students with the most current digital and scientific modern technology in such a way that they are both theoretically and practically sound. Also, it is the priority of the department to shape our students to compete with their counterparts in any university globally.

DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

Figure 1: Departmental Organogram

 

Brief History of Mechanical Engineering Department 

University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo is a public University established by an Act of Imo State Parliament Law No. 4 of 2019 and Amended Law No. 7 of 2020, official Gazette No. 20, Vol. 44. The University is approved and licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the 49th State University in Nigeria and 171st in the Federation, in 2019, to run 29 programs under five faculties and one of it is the faculty of Engineering.

Engineering is the application of the principles of mathematics and physical sciences to the solution of problems associated with physical materials, with a view to combating the forces of nature, for the benefit of mankind. Engineering is one of the few vocations recognized worldwide as a profession. Any aspiring student who wants to make a career in Engineering profession must ask himself (herself) these two questions: “why be an engineer?” and what does it take to be an Engineer?” The first question needs to be explained to him/her in such a manner that would enable him/her appreciate what an engineer does. As an Engineer, you get a chance to solve important problems confronting your communities, local government areas, cities, countries and the world at large.  And for what it takes to be an Engineer; it is important to state that not any kind of person can study Engineering. Curiosity to solve problems makes you a great Engineer with proper command of mathematics and physical sciences. There is a specific branch of Engineering for every interest so as to nurture Engineers with requisite knowledge in any chosen branch. Here at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, we presently have five departments in engineering namely: Chemical and Petroleum, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical/Electronics, Agricultural and Biosystems engineering. Considering the blue prints of the faculty, there is every opportunity for our programs to grow in number and strength to meet new challenges and societal needs.

Mechanical engineering is the application of the principles of physics (namely of motion, energy, and force), mathematics, materials science and engineering problem-solving techniques to the design, analysis, manufacture, operation and maintenance of mechanical systems while ensuring competitive costing, safety, reliability and efficiency of such systems. The mechanical engineering discipline employs contemporary design tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and product lifecycle management tools to analyse and design a wide variety of systems.

This curriculum is designed in line with contemporary global trends in Mechanical Engineering education; emphasizing development of materials, mass, momentum and energy balances leading to the geometric description of conservation laws of nature. These lead to several important constitutive models and multi-physics in special fields such as:

1. Linear and nonlinear mechanics Applied (solid) Mechanics (involving the analysis of the behaviour of solid bodies subjected to external loads, stresses and/or vibrations and using the information in the design and manufacture/construction of such bodies).
2. Fluid Mechanics (involving the analysis of the behaviour of liquids and gases and employing the knowledge in the design and development of machinery and systems that can and/or do influence that behaviour – pumps, fans, turbines, piping systems, et cetera).
3. Thermal Engineering [including Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer] (involving the analysis of the conversion of thermal energy into work and/or other forms of energy and thermal energy transport and employing this knowledge in the design and development of energy conversion devices and systems, e.g., power plants, engines, heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) systems, etc.).
4. Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineering (covering the full range of mechanical-based products and systems); arising from the above engineering sciences synthesized together into modern software solutions of the resulting complex equations that, added to 3D Solid models, simulation analysis and optimization produce useful design tools.
5. Industrial Engineering and Management Science.

 

The Philosophy and Objectives of Mechanical Engineering Programme

The philosophy of the programme is to produce self-reliant and confident graduates who can bring their academic and practical backgrounds to bear on the problems of industry and the larger Nigerian society. The academic programme has been planned to challenge and encourage students towards developing ingenuity and originality in problem solving. The cornerstone of this is an early grounding in the basic engineering sciences and a strong emphasis on applied design in later years. To achieve the goals and objectives of the National Policy on Industrialisation and Self-Reliance, the Engineering and Technology education is geared towards:

1. The development of a thorough practice in engineering and technology training.
2. Broad–based training in general Engineering and Technology at the early stages of the programme.
3. Practical application of Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing Processes.
4. Provide adequate training in human and organizational behavior and management
5. Introduction to entrepreneurial education and training
6. Close association of the programme with industries in the country.
7. Actively engage in engineering practice or in other fields, such as education, science, business, public policy, politics or governance for sustainable development;
8. Retain intellectual curiosity that will motivate them to pursue meaningful lifelong learning via graduate education in engineering or related fields, participation in professional development and/or industrial training courses, and/or obtain engineering certification;
9. Develop successful careers as mechanical engineers and apply their mechanical engineering education to address the full range of technical and societal problems with professional engineering competence, creativity, imagination, confidence and responsibility;
10. Occupy positions of increasing responsibility and/or assignments and aspire to positions of leadership within their profession for enhanced community participation and qualitative service delivery; and
11. Exhibit the highest ethical and professional standards, and, as agents of positive change, communicate the importance and excitement of mechanical engineering.
12. To design and develop new products and production techniques in industries
13. To install and maintain complex engineering systems so that they can perform optimally in our environment.

 

PROGRAMME EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES (PEOS) FOR MECHANICAL List of Programme(s):

Programme