Education Of Engineers In Electricity

By Marcel Jufer Vice President for Education Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale

Lausanne

Engineering in Electricity today

They ask us

to evolve …

Engineer in Electricity ?• Yesterday – somebody knowing

everything in electricity:– Electromagnetism– and Circuits– and Electronics– and Motors– and Energy– and Telecommunications

Engineer in Electricity ?• Today – a specialist in :

– Electromagnetism– or Circuits– or Electronics– or Motors– or Energy– or Telecommunications

To much specialised !

Engineer in Electricity ?

• Tomorrow – somebody who knows :– Electromagnetism– Circuits and :

• Electronics• Motors• Energy• Informatics•or Telecommunications– + management, open minded,

speaking 3 languages + …

–

ELECTRICITY

Sensors

Electronics

Telecom-municationSignal

processing

Electromagnetism

Control

Electricdrives

Energy

Physics – Chemistry - Biology

Electromagnetism (Maxwell)

Circuit analysis (Kirchhoff)

Technical components

Technicalsystems

Environment

Mathematics

Physics – Chemistry - Biology

Electromagnetism (Maxwell)

Circuit analysis (Kirchhoff)

Technical components

Technicalsystems

Environment

MathematicsElectricalengineer

Physics – Chemistry - Biology

Electromagnetism (Maxwell)

Circuit analysis (Kirchhoff)

Technical components

Technicalsystems

Environment

Mathematics

Po

wer

dis

trib

uti

on

Mo

bile

tel

eph

on

e

A more general problem:a number of students to lowin engineering - Causes• The perception of sciences and

techniques nowadays• The financial attractiveness• The difficulty of such studies• A job for men !

A more general problem:a number of students to lowin engineering - Solutions• Increase the number of female

students• Lack of engineers = salary increase• Develop new cursus in the field of

solutions (against pollution, noise, for life quality, life sciences, medical eng)

• Develop education with majors and minors

Main Goals• Refresh the traditional diploma in

Electricity• Introduce Majors and Minors• Increase the ratio of female students• Improve the mobility• Improve the collaboration with

industries• More social and human sciences

What to do in electricity?

• Industry pressure and information• To change the label “electricity”• To change the orientation

possibilities• Emphasise the poly-technical aspect• Basic aspect, basic science• More flexibility (major-minor)

MaterialsMicro

engineeringElectricityMechanics

A later choice

Sciences and techniques for engineering

1stcycle

2ndcycle

Education with majors and minors

Sciences and techniques for engineering

1stcycle

2ndcycle

Mechanics ElectricityMicro

engineering

Diploma Major - Minor

Major in electricity

• Energy• Power electronics• Industrial electronics• Micro electronics• Medical engineering• Communication devices• etc

Minor in :

New diplomas

Sciences andtechniques For engineering

Mechanics Electricity

1stcycle

2ndcycle

Micro

engineering

EnergyMicro

électronics

X

YYYYY

Professor

Student

Title

Today, more engineers in elctrotechnics are retiring than young engineers entering the market

It’s time to act !

It’s our task !