COURSES ADDRESS SHORTAGE OF TELECOM ENGINEERS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -Four University of Arkansas faculty members received more $500,000 to develop a suite of courses in telecommunications and mixed-signal microelectronics for national distribution over Internet2. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the three courses will better prepare students for careers as electrical engineers.

The explosion of wireless communication and high technology has required increasing numbers of engineers trained in mixed-signal and telecommunications areas. Industries ranging from aviation to automobiles to consumer electronics need engineers to design, test and manufacture components and universities are struggling to keep pace with the demand.

"There is an overwhelming shortage of these engineers," said Alan Mantooth, associate professor of electrical engineering. "The demand for them has outstripped our country’s educational system’s ability to supply them."

Mantooth cites as an example an estimate that most new automobiles will soon contain more than $2,000 worth of electronic components. Air bags, anti-lock brakes, fuel-injection systems, power steering systems, navigation systems, proximity detectors and other essential systems rely on electronics.

The project is being developed by Mantooth; Simon Ang, professor of electrical engineering; Fred Barlow, assistant professor of electrical engineering; and Sean Mulvenon, associate professor of educational leadership, counseling and foundations. It involves modification of two existing courses - Mantooth’s Modeling and Simulation of Mixed Signal Circuits and Ang’s Mixed Signal Testing - and creation of a new course, RF Microwave Design, by Barlow. Mulvenon will direct the on-going evaluation on the courses.

"I think evaluation is a key component," Mantooth said. "The courses will be evaluated annually and improvements made in each successive stage of dissemination."

Courses will be multicast to specific sites. Because of its expanded capabilities, the use of Inernet2 will have the added benefit of making it easier to include experts on a given topic. Experts from industries and national laboratories will participate in the courses. However, instead of lengthy travel to address a small audience, the expert can simply go to a nearby Internet2 site to participate in the course and reach a far larger audience. This format will also facilitate bringing recent research developments into the course.

"Our ultimate goal is producing better-prepared students for careers in this high-demand area," explained Mantooth. "We will provide relevant, up-to-date educational opportunities and a synergy that includes industrial partners interested in hiring these students once they graduate."