An Exemplary Curricula With Proper Mix Of Engineering Fundamentals And Training Students At State Of Art Technology

The author established state-of-art laboratories in VLSI Design and Fabrication in 1984, and 1986 respectively at University of Massachusetts Lowell, and continually updating them. In addition he initiated courses e.g. 16.469, 15.502, and 16.602 in VLSI Design / VHDL Based Design and 16.470, 16.504 in the VLSI Fabrication field, teaching and updating these courses continually. In addition, the author initiated and taught courses such as 16.661 Local Area / Computer Networking, 16571 Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuits (MMIC) Design and Fabrication and 16.547 Introduction to ITS Technologies. All these coursed demonstrate a proper mix of engineering fundamentals and training students at state-of-art technology, as will be evident from the course syllabi. But the author felt astonished, how deeply this topic was germane to the industry as revealed at 50 anniversary of American Electronic Association celebrated at Motorola Campus at Schaumburg Illinois in 1995. Executive V.P. of Motorola articulated in his inaugural address, “Industry neither has Resources nor Will to train the people. Universities will have to do both i.e. teaching fundamentals as well as training the students on some state-of-art technology, so that they are productive right away”. Dr. John White (Dean of Georgia Tech, then) said, “Our job is to teach Fundamentals”. Motorola’s executive V.P. said, “You will be history, and to prove my point I am awarding $ one million to Purdue University to come out with an integrated curriculum, which will accomplish both”. I came overwhelmed with enthusiasm and shared this conversation with our Chancellor William T. Hogan who said, “This is our mission in the university”. I felt deeply relieved, that we were doing the right thing. On September 30, 2005 our chancellor invited leaders from Academia, Industry and Government to examine whether we are on right track at preparing the students broad enough at multi-disciplines in wake of global competition. Dr. Curtis Tompkins Emeritus President of Michigan Tech, and presently Director of Volpe Center assured the author that these issues are very dear to the heart of Dr. John White, presently President of Arkansas University, and Member on Motorola Board. The author involved leaders namely Robert Meisenhelder from Analog Devices, Dr. Bradley Barber from Skyworks Solutions, Lisa Auction, Dr. Chris Carroll and Dr. Tom Kazior from Raytheon and Dr. John Vaughan from MA/Com. The issue of integrated curriculum is of prime importance to these national leaders. Preparing the students at UMASS Lowell with a proper mix of engineering fundamentals and training at state-of-art technology, so that they are reproductive on the job right away in the topmost percentage. It is because of this sublime endeavor of the department in general, and that of the author in particular, there is hardly any HiPage 11186.2 Tech industry in the nation, where our alumni are not in significant numbers in leading jobs. Details of all these endeavors will be presented in the papers.