Professional Training Placements within the School of Electronic, Communication and Electrical Engineering (SECEE)

All our degree courses are designed to blend essential principles with up to date techniques, taught within a framework of real applications. The translation of ideas into good practice is facilitated by a structured learning environment which encourages students to make optimum use of time and resources and take responsibility for their own learning.

Students are encouraged to develop a structured methodology for problem solving; individual and group projects provide a focus for effective teamwork, often across discipline. The need for good communication skills is emphasised and students are encouraged to acquire these alongside their academic development, through formal report writing and informally in tutorials and group presentations.

For most of our students the transition from academia to industry is a natural step in their development and they quickly adapt to the challenges they meet and are usually able to make an effective contribution.

Tol-O-Matic, Minnesota, USA

"I would employ this student on completion of his programme of study without a single hesitation"

DERA Malvern

"Attention to detail and general professionalism"

DERA Winfrith

"He possesses a sound technical awareness of engineering issues for a second year degree student and is quick to learn new engineering technology"

West Instruments Ltd, Brighton

"His positive attitude to the challenges he has been asked to take on, has been of great benefit to the department"

NDS, Southampton

"He has produced well designed software of a high standard and has shown ability to quickly grasp new ideas"

Matrox (UK) Ltd, Slough

"He has very good technical skills and good customer-facing skills. Can we have 3 more please?"

Newbridge Networks, Newport

"He will be an asset to any organisation he works for"

Our BEng honours degrees are accredited by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the award of first or second class honours satisfies the educational requirements for progression to Chartered status, after completion of an appropriate matching section as defined in SARTOR 3.

Our BSc honours degrees are accredited by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE), and graduates may subsequently apply for registration as an Incorporated Engineer.

The School of Electronic, Communication and Electrical Engineering offers 10 degree courses:

• BEng Communication Engineering
  
• BEng Computer Engineering
  
• BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  
• BEng Electronic Engineering
  
• BEng Robotics and Automated Systems
  
• BSc Computer Systems Engineering
  
• BSc Electrical and Electronic Systems
  
• BSc Electronic Communication Systems
  
• BSc Management of Electronics and Global Communication Systems
  
• BSc Multimedia, Production and Technology
  

Each course includes the 12 month placement period which is usually completed between years 2 and 3.

The course requirements are that 48 weeks of Professional Industrial Experience must normally be carried out before a sandwich degree is awarded. However, it is also recognised that in some cases, the actual period worked may have to be less than this and 36 weeks is the accepted minimum. Usually the industrial placement is carried out after two years of study, but in some cases it may be possible to complete the course requirements after completion of the final examinations.

It is unlikely that all objectives can be met during one industrial placement period. Nevertheless, the company is contributing to the training of future graduate engineers and will appreciate the benefits to be obtained. Provision should be made for a variety of work in order to continue the "learning curve" throughout the placement and ideally, one person in the company (Engineering Manager, Work Supervisor), should act as "mentor".

Students effectively become employees of the company and are expected to comply with company rules with regard to time-keeping, discipline, confidence of information etc. Annual salaries for placement students vary, but the current levels range between £9,000 and £12,000.

Each student will normally be visited by a designated tutor from the University at least twice during the placement period.

Students can:-

• contribute new ideas to the company
• assist in completing unfinished projects
• make useful contributions towards new projects
• continue with the day to day work of the company
• provide useful links between company and University for furtherance of research and project ideas
• become a "known quantity" as potential future employees and save companies money in advertising and recruiting.