Press coverage

Modules in Biometrics and Security added to CEESI-Training portfolio as University of Kent joins the consortium

February 2008

The University of Kent has joined the CEESI-Training consortium of eleven universities, contributing four new advanced modules in the area of security and biometrics. Skills in biometrics are currently much in demand for developments such as identity cards and smart cards. The University of Kent is acknowledged to be a world expert in biometrics and is currently working with leading industrial companies such as Motorola. The four new modules are:

Foundations of Biometrics and Secure Systems
Industrial Context of Biometrics
Practical Biometric Systems
Advanced Biometrics

Winston Waller, Senior Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at the University of Kent commented "Joining the CEESI-Training consortium is a very important development for the University. We are joining the leading consortium providing advanced training for industry in electronic engineering in the UK and will benefit from the many advantages this brings: cooperation, marketing and financial assistance. It will help the University deliver modules in biometrics and security to a larger proportion of the population of engineers in UK industry who require training in this new and fast developing area."

Chairman of the CEESI-Training Board of Management, David Rees, a leading electronic engineer and industrialist said "I am very pleased that the CEESI-Training portfolio is being expanded to cover the rapidly developing areas of biometrics and security. The consortium will be strengthened by the addition of the world-class expertise and advanced training modules of the leading UK university in this field. The University of Kent is joining a group of other leading UK universities in providing excellent advanced training for the electronic engineering industry in a positive attempt to counteract the skills gap in the UK."

A graphic is showing the structure of modules available from CEESI-Training is published on the website:

Graphic on CEESI website: www.ceesi.ac.uk/overview.html

PDF download: www.ceesi.ac.uk/images/module-structure-jan08-heading.pdf (2.5MB)

Home page for CEESI-Training: www.ceesi.ac.uk

Contacts

Professor Ted Pritchard
Tel. 01204 903433
Email: t.pritchard@bolton.ac.uk

Roy Attwood
Tel. 01204 903555
Email: r.attwood@bolton.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

Since its start in 2001, over 1,200 engineers have completed CEESI-Training modules and currently CEESI is training over 300 engineers each year. The 44 modules offered cover most areas of electronic system design and implementation including digital design, analogue and RF design, communications, signal integrity, software design and now biometrics and security also. These modules have been taken by engineers from over 180 companies in the UK including NXP Semiconductors, QinetiQ, ST Microelectronics, Sony, NSC and Motorola. Already several engineers have successfully retrained in new technologies using CEESI-Training modules, enabling them to develop their careers and take on new responsibilities in industry.

The CEESI-Training programme has been designed in collaboration with the UK microelectronics industry to provide flexible training at postgraduate level in electronic systems design and integration, that is essential to the industry. Based on the simple philosophy that employers can help to specify the contents of postgraduate training modules so that they meet the needs of a rapidly changing microelectronics industry, the CEESI programme enables specific study on a part time basis with the option of working towards postgraduate awards. Study is flexible, enabling postgraduates to select modules from different universities and build towards an MSc award from one of the partner universities. For industry, the CEESI programme extends microelectronics knowledge and skills through highly relevant training.

CEESI’s partners in academia are the Universities of Bolton, Bradford, Kent, Manchester, Surrey, Southampton and the Institute for System Level Integration (ISLI) representing the Universities of Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh and Strathclyde. Industrial supporters include Infineon Technologies, Sony SDE, National Semiconductor, BAE Systems, Cadence Design, NXP Semiconductors, National Microelectronics Institute, and Motorola.

Passing a CEESI module gains academic credits (typically 15) and in combination with other modules can lead to a Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) at 60 credits or a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) at 120 credits. The addition of a substantial project can lead to the Master of Science (MSc) award from one of the academic partners, with 180 credits. Studying these modules involves a mixture of distance learning, possibly over the Internet (sometimes involving remote execution of specialist software), and study at a university in the UK for up to five days.

CEESI-Training was named "Education initiative of the Year" at the 2006 EuroAsia IC Industry Awards in San Francisco, USA.

The first major inquiry by the new House of Commons Innovation, Universities and Skills (IUS) committee will be into engineering and will focus on electronics. CEESI-training is an important initiative in filling the UK skills gap.

The development of the CEESI programme is being supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the UK with funds under the Collaborative Training Account (CTA) scheme. CEESI is managed by representatives from the industry, working in partnership with the academic institutions. Co-operation between the companies and the universities ensures that the provision is accurately targeted to the industry's requirements. EPSRC has provided funding to reduce the cost of the fees of CEESI modules to EU residents.

The EPSRC website is: www.epsrc.ac.uk

Issued by the CEESI office, University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5AB
Last updated 13/02/08 RA