IQP Sponsors

Introduction and Methodology

This section details the heart of our project. The success of The Melbourne Project Center is dependent upon the number of project sponsors solicited and also upon the number of projects each organization can provide in turn. Included in this section is the procedure for soliciting a sponsor, descriptions of each sponsor - detailing their organization and what they do, transcripts of both our telephone conversations and meetings with representatives of each respective organization, and a conclusion including possible projects and recommendations as to the viability of each sponsor.

Solicitation Procedure

The process of establishing an IQP sponsor is composed of four main parts. First, it is important to have a working knowledge of the organization being solicited. This can be obtained easily if they have an internet site or, if not, by a simple phone call requesting information.

The next step is to make a call to the right person in order to explain the IQP and set up an official meeting if they express sufficient interest. Often, the hardest part lies in finding the right person to contact. Usually, this is done through networking which entails obtaining contact information of related organizations from someone we've previously spoken with about the IQP. For example, at the end of most of our meetings, we'd ask if they knew of anyone else who might be interested in what WPI has to offer. Once this person is contacted however, it is important to have a list of projects previously completed by WPI students which pertain to their particular organization. WPI's publication, Interactions, is a perfect source for these listings. Often, the person contacted will request more detailed information via email or regular mail. A template and general mailing was formed for both these occasions (see Appendix).

Should the phone contact express enough interest, a meeting is generally the next step, scheduled at a time convenient to them. All team members are usually present and one person is designated as spokesman to prevent confusion. The oral presentation is supplemented by informational handouts detailing the IQP, team contact information, and sponsorship information. Also presented is Interactions, previous IQP reports to show how the end result looks, and other various publications such as the Global Perspectives brochure which may be pertinent to the situation.

Once the presentation is concluded, interest is determined and if it is still sufficient, contact is arranged with WPI in order to officially set one or more projects up.

Note: Contact information for each potential sponsor is given in Appendix A-1.

Organizations

BHP Research

CSIRO - Division of Building Construction

Department of Human Services

Department of Infrastructure

Dussek Campbell

Environment Protection Authority (EPA)

Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPA)

Golden Dragon Museum

IBM

Metropolitan Fire Brigade

Museum of Victoria

National Trust

Ove Arup & Partners

Royal Melbourne Hospital Research Foundation

State Library of Victoria

Vision Products