The MATE International ROV Competition: A University Perspective

The MATE International ROV Competition provides college, high school and middle school students with an exciting hands-on educational experience. College and university students live in a different world than their high school counterparts, however, and their advising needs are substantially different. Time management in particular is an important issue with undergraduate engineering students who have heavy course loads with little free time. Advisors and departments supporting university-based ROV teams must be aware of these needs and actively work with the students to help them get the maximal educational benefits from their participation in the ROV Competition. This paper discusses the dynamics of a university-based ROV team and the changing role that the advisor must play as the team evolves in time. These issues are discussed in the context of lessons learned from the author's experience as the advisor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ROV Team.