The UK has always been an attractive destination
for the brightest overseas students wishing to study electronics,
either through a taught course, or by research.
However, choosing the right University for either undergraduate
or postgraduate study is a daunting prospect, made particularly
difficult for students from overseas, who do not always get the
chance to visit the University of their choice prior to the start
of the course. Fortunately. there are several ways to find out more
about foreign Universities in order to make an informed decision.
The first is from the University’s own undergraduate and postgraduate
prospectus, which gives listings of the courses on offer, admission
requirements, accommodation facilities and the location and type
of University. Exhibitions or international offices have staff trained
to represent their University, in order to provide one-to-one information
on any problems or enquiries which international students may have.
In addition, league tables are used to represent data audited on
teaching by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with
equivalents for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Institutions
are marked on important aspects of their teaching and curriculum,
including content and organisation of courses, student progress
and achievement, and support and resources. Awards for teaching
standards can be won in open competitions, such as the Queen’s
Anniversary Prize, given every second year for specific activities
in the Higher Education sector, with about 20 prizes awarded. Other
awards sponsored by the EU, the Department of Trade and Industry
and international journals and magazines indicate the quality of
a Department. A successful course will no doubt have attained high
standing in such award and audit schemes, indicating a quality department
which will offer much to the international student.
In addition, a successful University will offer the results of
its research involving the student during their time at the institution,
whilst working closely with the leading industrial players in their
specialist area, such as Satellite Engineering, Communications Systems
Engineering, or Vision Speech and Signal Processing. Members of
staff will be supported in their department by research associates
and students, pulling together under strong leadership, both in
classes and individual tutorials.
During 1993-5, the UK’s Office of Science and Technology sponsored
a major Technology Foresight exercise, the outcomes of which were
over 300 recommendations of research areas, where concerted effort
now would help position the UK to strong international economic
advantage in the years 2010-15. Several universities, therefore,
play a leading role in Technology Foresight Initiatives - mobile
communications, digital broadcasting and multimedia, and in silicon
microelectronics. These initiatives involve new forms of research
consortia, industry led, but with the participation of the key UK
university research groups (typically 4-6 universities in each sector).
Industrial recognition is another indication of quality. The large
teams in which students carry out their research ensure that specialist
advice is on hand at all times, and the stimulation of new ideas
is part of the air that is breathed. The scope for radical thinking
and new solutions is protected, but without the need for an ivory
tower. The engineering disciplines of completing projects successfully,
on time and within budget, is an important feature of the research
with industrial partners. Students will get exposed to this from
the first day, and encouraged in continuing such policies.
An example of typical student projects is that of Surrey University’s
unique Centre for Satellite Engineering Research. This, combined
with Surrey Space Technology, has launched 12 micro satellites,
and is currently controlling and monitoring data from 8 of these
satellites in orbit around the earth. Discipline and skill is required,
as delays in construction resulting in a missed launch are not an
option!
At a time when the international mobility of students is at an
all-time high, and internationally recognised centres of excellence
are winning more than their share of the research cake, Departments
of Electronics and Electronic Engineering in the United Kingdom
are happy to have their work and achievements sought after against
all comers as the cream of the crop.
Author: Professor M. Kelly, University of Surrey, UK
This article first appeared in TransWorld Education
