Mr 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 analysis for large scale renewable-integrated power systems (e.g., microgrids and smart grids), curriculum design and development in engineering education, and condition monitoring of power system equipment.

Hua's Ph.D. research topic focuses on engineering education in energy systems. As a major goal of his research, a refined curriculum framework for electrical power engineering programs will be designed and developed, which allows the graduates to be highly employable and job-ready in the energy sector. Hua is one of first Engineering Education Ph.D. scholars in UNSW Engineering.

My Academic Qualifications

Master of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2018-2019

Graduate Certificate in Energy Systems, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2017-2018

Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Automation, North China Electrical Power University, China, 2010-2014

Bachelor of Management, Project Management, North China Electrical Power University, China, 2010-2014

My Academic Positions

Education Officer (Innovation), University of New South Wales, Australia, 2023-Present

Associate Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2022-Present

Casual Academic, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2018-Present

My Industry Experience

Associate Engineer, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Australia, 2022-Present

Power System Engineer (Maintenance), State Grid Corporation of China, China, 2014-2016

My Awards

Faculty of Engineering Demonstrator/Tutor Excellence Award, University of New South Wales, 2022

3MT (3 Minute Thesis) ELEC School Heat 2^nd place (Runner-up), School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, UNSW, 2022

Faculty of Engineering Students' Choice Teaching Award, University of New South Wales, 2021

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), 2021

Outstanding Paper Award, International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Education (IEEE TALE conference), 2020

Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, Australian Government (Department of Education, Skills and Employment), 2020

My Teaching

I have extensive experience in tutoring/mentoring/marking/lab demonstration in the following courses:

• ELEC 1111 Electrical Circuit Fundamentals (Undergraduate)

• ELEC 2134 Circuits and Signals (Undergraduate)

• ELEC 3111 Distributed Energy Generation (Undergraduate)

• ELEC 4611 Power System Equipment (Undergraduate & Postgraduate)

• ELEC 4612 Power System Analysis (Undergraduate & Postgraduate)

• ELEC 4613 Electrical Drive System (Undergraduate & Postgraduate)

• ELEC 4614 Power Electronics (Undergraduate & Postgraduate)

• ELEC 4617 Power System Protection (Undergraduate & Postgraduate)

• ELEC 9713 Industrial and Commercial Power System (Postgraduate)

• ELEC 9716 Electrical Safety (Postgraduate)

• ELEC 9123 Design Proficiency (Postgraduate)

I also served as one of the course instructors for UNSW - Aurecon Short Course: Grid Integration of Renewables using PSCAD (May & August, 2022)

My Research Engagement

I am actively engaged in projects in the field of engineering education. Selected projects 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

My Supervision

Undergraduate Thesis (Joint supervision): Comparative study of curriculum framework of renewable-based power engineering programs in Australia, 2022-2023

Masters Thesis (Joint supervision): Implementation of online virtual laboratory in electric power engineering program, 2020-2021

Masters Thesis (Joint supervision): Statistical analysis in engineering education research-A case study in a fourth year power engineering course, 2021-2022

Masters Thesis (Joint supervision): The impact of national energy policy on higher education curriculum and energy industry, 2022-2023