Sceptics would have potential students believe
that physics and engineering is a boring subject involving unending
study and offering little at graduation by way of employment. If
this is your belief you have yet to discover the University of Dundee.
As the turn of the millennium approaches,
technology seems to move ever faster and the demand for engineers
from all backgrounds grows ever stronger so what are the expectations
of engineering?
Mechanical Engineering is a well established mainstream engineering
profession concerned with technology and design of machines, all
kinds of vehicles, energy systems, and equipment in virtually every
kind of industry and service. Design and Automation of machine systems
are a particular strength in our Department. The option of Engineering
in Medicine is opening up a new field of study as medics show enthusiasm
for designing their own equipment.
In the world of medicine, scanners and ultrasound, electron microscopes
and endoscopic (keyhole) surgery all benefit our lives. The expansion
of medical technology alone ensures that the Electrical and Electronic
Engineers also stand at the forefront of demand! In addition our
everyday transport, the not-so-humble motorcar, is a mass of electronic
sensors, displays and controls. Communication and Information Technology,
from mobile phones to satellites, camcorders to digital video, computer
chips to fly-by-wire aircraft, all come from the expertise and ingenuity
of electrical and electronic engineers.
The civil engineer is a slightly different creature although no
less in demand. Civil Engineering is about problem solving. The
civil engineer is expected to provide practical and economical solutions
to real-life problems. Solutions such as a new bypass road, a hospital
building or the provision of a quality water supply are vital and
important to the community. The solutions are also complex, often
controversial and frequently very expensive and the men and women
who deal with them need a fundamental understanding of engineering
principles as well as specialist knowledge and skills in management
and finance.
Degree courses in Civil Engineering contain a core of essential
subjects which cover the main areas of structural design and construction,
water supply and waste disposal, geo-technical engineering and material
science. Many courses take on the flavour of the particular research
interests within a department leading to optional courses covering
environmental issues, offshore engineering and management studies
to name but a few. The career prospects are therefore very diverse
and offer graduates a wide variety of paths in employment. As a
consulting engineer graduates will work in an office environment
dealing with the requirements of the client and other professionals,
from feasibility studies through to the final design stage. In contracting
they will gain on-site experience in the management of a range of
civil engineering projects. Opportunities also exist for working
overseas. In short, civil engineering offers one of the most rewarding
and varied careers available to prospective students.
Students of Physics at Dundee will meet the traditional physics
subjects that will allow them to work as professional physicists.
However, as the Department is part of a larger unit that contains
engineering subjects, students benefit from the wide range of interdisciplinary
activities available. In the final years, Physics students undertake
a research project within one of the research groups and may find
themselves working with advanced electron microscopes and spectroscopy,
on advanced semiconductors, or on analysing satellite data. Many
graduates find employment in the areas of their research expertise,
but physicists are also employed in a range of work from finance
right through to piloting aircraft.
At Dundee all our degree courses in physics and engineering are
designed to equip students to face the challenges of the wider industry.
As such, courses are accredited by the relevant Institutions such
as the Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE), Institute of
Electrical Engineering (IEE), Institute of Civil and Structural
Engineering (ICSE) and Institute of Physics (Iop) as a means of
maintaining standards. The Department of Applied Physics and Electronic
and Mechanical Engineering has students from more than 10 nationalities,
including female students from as far afield as China, France, Malaysia,
Finland, Singapore and Ireland who all foresee exciting careers,
an opportunity to contribute to society’s development, and
the building of global friendships.
The Author, Denise List, International Student Recruitment Officer
APEME, University of Dundee U.K
Visit: http://www.dundee.ac.uk
This article first appeared in Educational Courses in Britain
