|
Full
Site Search
To search the entire TransWorld Education Site for both
articles and college details please use the form below.
Warning: Results can be extensive.
|
Electrical Engineering
A Stimulating Challenge
Engineers belong to the greatest profession
in the world, responsible for almost everything that makes
life worth living - from leisure activities to medical treatment,
mobile communications to modern transport systems. Within
the wide boundaries of the electrical engineering profession,
there are thousands of challenging activities, in areas such
as research, development, design, manufacture and operation
of products and services. Activities which provide stimulating
intellectual challenges with diverse and varied tasks, inevitably
involving deadlines, and all added to the satisfaction of
real output or delivery.
Demand for good engineers is high, both in the UK and internationally.
In the IT and electronics sectors in particular, there are
world shortages of Chartered and Incorporated Engineers, and
unemployment amongst professional engineers is lower than
for almost any other profession.
Engineering degrees can lead to a vast number of career opportunities,
with graduates in demand in almost every sector of the economy.
The word used most often when referring to a career in engineering
is variety; and electrical, electronic, software, systems,
information and manufacturing engineering offer a host of
alternative job opportunities for new graduates. Specialisations
range from Automation to Power Generation and from Communications
to Manufacturing. Within each of these fields, there are opportunities
in research, design, development and tests, as well as management,
production, marketing and sales. A degree can also provide
a passport into the world of education.
Professional engineers also stand a better chance of becoming
a chief executive than any other professional, outnumbering
accountants by three to one!
The environment in which engineering professionals work has
never been more dynamic. New materials, technologies and processes
are being developed all the time. Increasing globalisation,
new markets, and changing employment patterns also mean that
an engineering career is now a truly international one.
How to Qualify
Qualifying as a Chartered Engineer in the UK currently takes
at least seven years. Success on an accredited degree course
at second class honours, a minimum of two years industrial
training, together with a further two years experience in
a position of recognised responsibility are normally required.
From September 1999, these requirements will be modified,
and an additional one year period of 'learning' will be required.
It means hard work, but the route and prospects are stimulating,
satisfying and rewarding.
The IEE - (The Institution of Electrical Engineers), together
with its sister institutions, accredits first degree courses
in electrical, electronic, manufacturing and computer-based
systems engineering, both in the UK and internationally. Engineering
is a rapidly changing profession, and engineering training
has to change just as rapidly to ensure that graduates are
equipped to meet the needs of industry. Not only that, but
university engineering departments must have an international
perspective on technological developments, operating at the
highest international standards.
The accreditation process is rigorous, but ensures that undergraduates
studying on an accredited course are guaranteed the highest
standards of engineering education. An annual guide published
by the IEE gives brief details on all accredited courses available.
The range is extremely wide and courses should be chosen with
care.
At school, students should take a board range of subjects
covering both art and sciences. Mathematics and Physics are
essential, but English is also important, and a foreign language
desirable. Minimum qualifications for entry to an Engineering
degree course are normally 'A' levels or equivalent in Mathematics
and Physics, but a third subject in either the Arts or Sciences
ensures a wider choice of degree options. Students without
the relevant 'A' levels have the opportunity to 'convert'
on one-year pre-entry courses at selected universities around
the country.
With the exception of a few specialist courses, it is common
for all students to take the same subjects in the first year(s)
of a degree, before going on to specialise in the final year(s),
when they can choose from a number of options. For this reason,
when selecting a course it is important to check what options
are available, especially if undergraduates already have a
specific career in mind. However, specialising in one area
whilst at University does not preclude working in another
field of the profession at a later date. Electrical engineering
offers a wide variety of opportunities for anyone not wanting
to make a final career decision too soon.
What type of degree?
Until September 1999, full time BEng degree courses in the
UK will usually be of three years duration (4 years in Scotland),
with little or no industrial training, although most undergraduates
are encouraged to take relevant vacation jobs in industry.
Sandwich courses, on the other hand, link academic and industrial
phases in several ways. The most common is the 'thick' sandwich,
between two 1-year periods in industry. The 'thin' sandwich
offers more frequent and shorter periods on course and in
industry, with typically a rotation of six months in each.
MEng courses are designed as first degrees, but are extended
to include a further period of study, which provides a greater
depth of treatment, a wider range of engineering study, and
the inclusion of business skills. Progression to an MEng course
is by merit, usually after the first year of a BEng course.
However, in the end, the choice of which course to take must
be a personal one, dependent on the aims, circumstances and
preferences of the individual student.
After Graduation
A degree is only the beginning of the formation of a professional
engineer. In order to qualify for membership of a professional
engineering institution, such as the IEE, and to qualify for
Chartered Engineering status, graduates must also have a minimum
of two years industrial training, and two years career development
in a responsible position.
Embarking on a training programme in a major industry enables
new graduates to develop experience of a wide range of jobs,
and acquire a broad understanding of engineering activity
outside their own branch. Students who were sponsored during
their degree courses may already have spent time in industry,
and will have started to give their academic studies an industrial
perspective. Postgraduate training also offers graduates the
chance to keep their career options open, as the opportunity
to experience the work of different sectors of an industry
can open up new areas of interest not previously appreciated.
The IEE accredits industrial training programmes, each year
producing a list of companies that undertake to provide accredited
training.
A Rewarding Future
There is little doubt that the world of electrical engineering
- and all that it encompasses -offers exciting opportunities
for both men and women. The industrial and economic success
of every nation is rooted firmly in its manufacturing and
engineering base, and the skills and ingenuity of its professional
engineers. The ability to research, develop and apply new
technologies is essential, particularly in today's global
markets.
In the UK alone, engineering-led industry contributes about
40% of its gross domestic product, and is the 'goose that
lays the golden eggs' for its national economy. From space
travel to household electrician, the role of the engineer
is crucial. For anyone looking for a rewarding future with
a wide variety of employment prospects, there has never been
a more exciting time to embark on a career in engineering.
Author:
Chris Dagnall, Institute of Electrical Engineers
|
