Did you know that some of the most significant technological advances of the 20th century were invented, or put into practice, by electrical engineers and computer scientists – including electric power systems and personal telecommunication systems?
Fast forward to the present day, we have electrical engineering experts to thank for the use of intelligent, information-driven systems and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.
As such, it’s no surprise that the demand for electrical engineers continues to grow in emerging countries like India and beyond, as these countries keep pace with the world’s rapid technological advances.
The Road to 2020 and beyond report by McKinsey&Company calls electrical engineering an ever growing sector that affects a multitude of industries.
For instance, “Carbon dioxide regulation is likely to continue to tighten, and not just in Europe. China, the US, and Japan have also enacted laws to reduce emissions. One immediate result will be higher costs.
“In Europe, the 2020 target might be reached with the help of advanced conventional technologies, but to meet the overall fleet targets, more electrification could be necessary (especially for premium players). This will push OEMs to invest more in e-mobility, meaning electrical/hybrid powertrains, including batteries, as well as in lightweight and aerodynamic drag-reducing technologies.”
For any students concerned for the future of electrical engineering, rest assured, it’s secure.
Due to the growing demand for enhanced technologies, such as electrical/hybrid powertrains, companies will be on the hunt for agile, confident electrical engineers that have the passion and knowhow to create the unexpected.
Pairing innovation with a forward-thinking vision, universities of today will power the next generation of students to invent transformative electronic devices and out-of-the-box solutions.
That’s why salaries for electrical engineers are some of the highest among the sub-engineering disciplines. The annual salary in Germany’s electrical engineering sector commands an average annual salary of €53,800. The figure is found to be higher in the US, at US$95,780.
Laying the tracks for high-opportunity pathways, universities that invest in your talent are undoubtedly worth your time.
By going global and sourcing an electrical engineering degree from an established university with a career-driven engineering department, your future will surely be bright!
Here are 4 top universities that fuse your future with high-opportunity pathways…
Undoubtedly a world-class engineering educator, Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville fuses your skills to future workplace expectations.
The department boasts one of the best power systems and power electronics programs in the world, including the CURENT engineering research center that addresses the future electric grid.
In the 2020 edition of the US News and World Report’s Best Colleges, the college of engineering scored 31st in Best Public Engineering Schools, with computer engineering ranked 30th and electrical engineering ranked 32nd.
If you’re an aspiring undergraduate, you can choose from the BS courses in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science, but with additional options such as concentrations in power and energy systems or minors in computer security or data centre technology and management.
All the academic programmes are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, “a nonprofit, non-governmental agency that accredits programmes in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology”.
Alternatively, graduate students can opt for various programmes such as an MS or PhD in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering. Students can also pursue graduate certificates in engineering management, fire protection engineering, or wide bandgap semiconductors.
Our close proximity to the Oak Ridge National Lab enables research collaborations with a spectrum of world-class facilities, including the world’s fastest supercomputer.
Once you’ve qualified as an EECS engineer or scientist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, professional possibilities are endless – especially as electrical engineering is a popular field among global employers.
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER – UK
At the University of Manchester’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, all courses are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
You can choose between a three-year BEng or a four-year MEng, a choice that can be made at the end of the second year, with three specialized pathways – Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Mechatronic Engineering – to choose from.
Inciting a real-world impact, the department is committed to positively affecting industry and society, from protecting power networks to reducing manufacturing costs.
On the electrical engineering front, the department’s pioneering global positioning system (GPS)-based method for preventing electricity blackouts has been included in international grid management standards and also features in technical guidelines on best practice.
Always encouraging students to innovate solutions of their own, this is a school that places your future first and enforces successful electrical engineering careers.
FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION SCIENCES, TAMPERE UNIVERSITY – FINLAND
The Information Technology and Communication Sciences faculty at Tampere is a great example of how multidisciplinary research and teaching across organisational boundaries translate to career-ready engineers. Here, academic units – including Computing Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Communication Sciences and Languages – draw from the expertise each other’s expertise, giving students and staff a unique, multidisciplinary viewpoint to tackle complex, global challenges.
At the Electrical Engineering unit, activities are based on a profound understanding of natural sciences fundamentals, specifically tailored to electrical and electromagnetic phenomena, as well as their modelling and applications. Good examples are wireless communication methods and systems, electronic circuits and materials, as well as electrical energy systems.
This degree instils an understanding of the theoretical foundations that underly electrical phenomena, encouraging students to apply this knowledge to promote the development of society and the wider world.
With around 150 faculty and staff members, students here learn in a hub of expertise. This distinguishes Tampere graduates from their competition. But it isn’t enough to be career ready; the most successful electrical engineers today are those with a vision of transforming the world. Equipped with a degree in electrical engineering from Tampere, students leave with a wealth of interesting and rewarding career options open to them when they graduate, as well as the chance to deepen their knowledge via graduate studies in the field.
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIA
Advancing the frontiers in electronics and photonics towards the development of novel devices and systems for emerging applications, the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has been offering degrees since 1889.
Supplying postgraduate students with both PhD and Master’s-level research higher degrees, flagship courses include the Master of Engineering (Electrical) and the Master of Engineering (Electrical with Business), with a Bachelor degree pathway offered via an Electrical Systems Major via the Bachelor of Science.
The department notes that both the Master of Engineering (Electrical) and Master of Engineering (Electrical with Business) are professionally recognised under two major accreditation frameworks – EUR-ACE® and the Washington Accord (through Engineers Australia).
Recognising the value of a curriculum guided by industry and work-integrated learning, students from this department greatly benefit from professional insights and internship connections.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
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