Dr Hua Chai

Hua Chai received his dual Bachelor's Degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Project Management from North China Electric Power University, China, in 2014. He received his Master's degree (Master of Philosophy) in Electrical Engineering at the University of New South Wales, Australia, in 2019. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Energy Systems group, School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, UNSW. His research interests include curriculum design and development in engineering education, condition monitoring of power system equipment and analysis of large scale, renewable-integrated power systems such as microgrids and smart grids.

With a particular emphasis on engineering education in energy systems, Hua's doctoral research aims to innovate in this field. A core objective of his study is the creation of a refined curriculum framework for electrical power engineering programs. This curriculum aims to equip future graduates with the practical skills and knowledge to excel and be readily employable in the rapidly evolving energy sector. As one of the first Ph.D. scholars in Engineering Education at UNSW Engineering, Hua's work is paving the way for the future of engineering education.

My Academic Qualifications

• Master of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia, February 2018- December 2019
• Graduate Certificate in Energy Systems, University of New South Wales, Australia, February 2017- January 2018
• Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Automation, North China Electrical Power University, China, August 2010- June 2014
• Bachelor of Management, Project Management, North China Electrical Power University, China, August 2010-June 2014

My Academic Positions

Mr. Hua Chai has occupied various positions in the academic field, contributing his knowledge and experience in unique roles:

• Education Officer (Innovation), University of New South Wales, Australia, May 2023-Present
• Course Content Developer, Digital Grid Futures Institute (DGFI), University of New South Wales, Australia, April 2023-Present
• Associate Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Australia, September 2022-Present
• Casual Academic, University of New South Wales, Australia, September 2018-Present

My Industry Experience

• Associate Engineer, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Australia, November 2022-June 2023
• Power System Engineer (Maintenance), State Grid Corporation of China, China, August 2014- February 2017

My Teaching

Mr. Hua Chai brings a diverse array of teaching experiences to his role at UNSW. As a course convenor and instructor, he has spearheaded key initiatives such as:

• Coordinating ELEC1111 Electrical Circuit Fundamentals (Summer Term, 2023)
• Leading the UNSW - Aurecon Short Course on Grid Integration of Renewables using PSCAD (May & August, 2022, September 2023)

Furthermore, he has served extensively as a teaching assistant, providing tutoring, mentoring, marking, and lab demonstration across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These include:

Undergraduate Courses:

• ELEC1111 Electrical Circuit Fundamentals
• ELEC2134 Circuits and Signals
• ELEC3111 Distributed Energy Generation
• ELEC4611 Power System Equipment
• ELEC4612 Power System Analysis
• ELEC4613 Electrical Drive System
• ELEC4614 Power Electronics
• ELEC4617 Power System Protection

Postgraduate Courses:

• ELEC9712 High Voltage Systems
• ELEC9713 Industrial and Commercial Power System
• ELEC9716 Electrical Safety
• ELEC9123 Design Proficiency

My Supervision

Mr. Hua Chai extends his expertise to mentoring students through their academic pursuits. His joint supervisory roles in theses span from undergraduate to master's level, and include:

• Undergraduate Thesis (2022-2023): "Comparative study of curriculum framework of renewable-based power engineering programs in Australia"
• Masters Thesis (2020-2021): "Implementation of online virtual laboratory in electric power engineering program"
• Masters Thesis (2021-2022): "Statistical analysis in engineering education research-A case study in a fourth year power engineering course"
• Masters Thesis (2022-2023): "The impact of national energy policy on higher education curriculum and energy industry"

My Research Engagement

Mr. Hua Chai is actively involved in several projects aimed at advancing engineering education. Key projects he is contributing to include:

• GROWing Confidence: Improving Student Retention, Graduate Capabilities and Integrity in a Large First-year Course (Education Stream)
• Development of a Framework for Embedding Teamwork Skills in Non-Design Courses
• Digital Uplift of ELEC9716 Electrical Safety
• Battery Safety Short course - UNSW Digital Grid Future Institute & TAFE NSW
• Education Support for Electrical Engineering Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (Electrical Engineering Drop-in Centre)
• A 3P (Policy - Pedagogy - Practice) model to Examine the Impact of National Energy policies on Engineering Curriculum Development

My Awards and Recognitions

Hua Chai has earned a host of accolades that underline his dedication and contributions to both teaching and research.

Teaching-Related Awards:

• UNSW Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning - Sessional Staff (Nov 2023)
• Faculty of Engineering Demonstrator/Tutor Excellence Award (Dec 2022)
• Faculty of Engineering Students' Choice Teaching Award (Dec 2021)

Research-Related Awards:

• Best Paper Award, 2023 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference (ASEE, Jun 2023)
• 3MT (3 Minute Thesis) ELEC School Heat 2nd Place (Runner-up), School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, UNSW (June 2022)
• Development and Research Training Grant, University of New South Wales (2021)
• International Conference Travel Funding, University of New South Wales (2021)
• Best Video Award, IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON, Feb 2021)
• Outstanding Paper Award, International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Education (IEEE TALE conference, Dec 2020)
• Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, Australian Government (Department of Education, Skills and Employment, May 2020)