PROFILE OF DEPARTMENT
General information
The Department of Electronic Engineering was created in 1981 by splitting the existing department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering into two distinct departments. The creation of the two departments had the approval of the NUC. The department of Electronic Engineering was created to harness the explosion of knowledge in the field of electronics to satisfy deep national needs for skilled engineers in the vital areas of telecommunication, control, instrumentation, digital and computer engineering.
The department produced the first batch of graduates in 1985. In 1984 the department started postgraduate (PG) programme for M. Eng. and Ph.D. Degrees aimed at producing specialists for industry and universities. The PG programme was intended to foster collaborative researches between the department, other related departments in other universities and industries locally and internationally. As the oldest department of Electronic Engineering in Nigeria, the department has always been keenly aware of its leadership role in spreading awareness of the importance of Electronic Engineering in the industrial development of the nation. In 1985, it organized a highly successful national workshop on microprocessors. And in 1989, it organized an international conference on developing countries and the new information age.
The Department’s vigorous strive for academic and professional excellence for both its students and staff culminated into a number of teaching and research collaborations with other national and international institutions.
I. There is collaboration with the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Abuja at national level. DBI is an International Centre for Professional Training in Telecommunications and ICT. It was established in 2004 by the National Communications Commission (NCC). This collaboration involves bilateral/multilateral training and research linkages with both national and multinational telecom and ICT industries. Through this, UNN-DBI Training–To–Placement Programme was designed to bridge the gap between the prevailing academic curricula of our national universities and the manpower needs of the emerging telecommunication and information technology industries in the country.
II. The international linkage of the department includes teaching, research and exchange collaborations with the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka signed an MOU with Delft University of Technology on behalf of the Department of Electronic Engineering and other departments (Physics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering) of the university to establish a Centre of Excellence in Microsystems and Nanoelectronics at UNN. Currently, two of our academic staff are in TU Delft on exchange programme. Two years ago, the UNN received two TU Delft students on the same programme.
III. At the International and national levels, the University and consequently the department formed collaborations under NetTel@Africa – an international postgraduate programme in ICT Policy and Regulations. The programme was basically a transnational network for capacity building and knowledge sharing in the information and communication technologies (ICT) and telecommunications (telecoms) policy, regulation and applications. The collaboration was with three other National Universities (UNILAG, OAU, UNIJOS) and nineteen international universities (twelve in Africa, two in Europe and five in North Africa). The network included, some international ICT Regulatory Organizations/Authorities in Africa (TRASA, ARICEA, WATRA AND EARPTO), and America, USA (NARUC, FCC), and some international Resource/Donor Organizations (CTO, ITU, SIDA, CATIA, DFID, GSA, USAID)
The department has recorded many significant milestones. Since its inception in 1981, the Department has produced the highest number of first class graduates than any other departments in the university. It has also produced many overall best graduating students more than any department in the university; it has produced overall university bests for three consecutive academic sessions in 1995/1996, 1996/1997 and 1997/1998. The 1996/1997 university best, Osita Onuma, in 1998/1999 produced best ever recorded result (aggregate of 98.85 on a 100-point scale – 98.85%) in the 124 year-history of taught postgraduate programme at Imperial College and the entire University of London. The department earned two national designations (honours) as a Centre of Excellence in Electronics and in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in 1986 and 2001 an Education Trust Fund (ETF) Center Of Excellence in ICT and Telecommunication Networks.
Given the above potential, the department is optimistic it can build on its considerable success and experience of the past 31 years to play a significant role in assisting the nation achieve its long term objective of technological self reliance.
PHILOSOPHY
The Department is designed to develop and execute a world-class electronic engineering programme intended to provide sound theoretical and practical training for students in the areas of communication, control, measurement, instrumentation, digital electronics and computer. This intention was born out of the national drive to be part of the digital revolution and the information society, as well as an institutional strive to be at the cutting edge of global developmental trends in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The course in Electronic Engineering is designed to produce graduates with sufficient academic grounding and basic design skills and industrial experience that enable them fit into any area of electronic engineering practice from product design and development to maintenance and research. A cornerstone of the programme is the deliberate emphasis placed on digital, computer and communication systems in view of the catalytic effect of these enabling technologies on the self-reliant aspirations of the Nation. Adequate grounding is also given in Control, Instrumentation, Technical Writing and Presentation.
The first two years of the five-year programme is common to all Engineering and cover the basic sciences and introductory courses in various branches of engineering. Courses in the third and fourth year provide grounding in all areas of electronic engineering and introduce students to component level design. The second semester of the fourth year and the subsequent long vacation are spent doing a minimum of six month industrial attachment at an approved establishment (SIWES). A student obtains a pass or fail grade in SIWES. Final year courses build up on the foundation laid by earlier courses and introduce the students to system-level design.
Course options intended to give students additional expertise in the chosen area are provided. Every student under-take projects with significant practical content, which must be presented in the project report and assessed in an oral examination. The programme, therefore, is designed to produce electronic engineers suited to the current and future needs of the country. It also provides a suited grounding for graduates who may wish to proceed to postgraduate studies.
SCOPE
Programme/Sub-discipline/Discipline Structure to include the period of the studies in the Universities Industrial training, planned visit and projects:
The department offers a five-year programme (realized in five sessions of two semesters each) for entrance candidates and a four-year programme (realized in four sessions of two semesters each) for direct entry candidates both leading to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering. It may be vital to note that each semester lasts for the minimum of fifteen weeks. During the programme each student is required to acquire a mandatory and well-supervised industrial work experience (SIWES) in six months in their penultimate year. At the end of the final year of the programme each student is required to work on an individual or group approved project under a supervisor. The project is compulsory and is formally presented to the degree examination board. It also offers postgraduate programs (Masters and PhD).
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the five/four/three–year Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) programme offered by the Department of Electronic Engineering is to produce a first degree in Electronic Engineering graduates armed with adequate theoretical knowledge and practical experience for successful and fruitful career in the Electronic Engineering profession. At the end of the programme, the student would have been basically equipped to perform the following functions in the course of their individual professional practices:
(a) Design, develop and install electronic systems;
(b) Operate and maintain electronic systems.
(c) Grow through industrial practice,
(d) Further studies and research in the development of improved electrical devices and systems and in the advancement of Electronic Engineering knowledge.