University of Kent contributes biometric expertise to UK training consortium

The Department of Electronics at the University of Kent is acknowledged to be a world expert in biometrics and is currently working with leading industrial companies such as Motorola and Electrone. Its four modules for CEESI are: Foundations of Biometrics and Secure Systems; Industrial Context of Biometrics; Practical Biometric Systems; and Advanced Biometrics.

The CEESI-Training programme, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, aims to address industry’s need for flexible training in electronics systems design and integration by establishing a ‘pool’ of training modules at postgraduate level, accessible mainly via the internet. Alongside the University of Kent, its partners are the universities of Manchester, Bolton, Bradford, Southampton and Surrey, with the Institute for System Level Integration representing the universities of Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh and Strathclyde.

Industrial supporters include, Infineon Technologies, Sony SDE, National Semiconductor, Cypress Semiconductors, Philips Semiconductors, National Microelectronics Institute, Motorola and Atmel.

Winston Waller, Senior Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at the University of Kent, said: ‘Joining the CEESI-Training consortium is a very important development for the Department and 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.’

Professor Michael Fairhurst, Head of the Department of Electronics, added: ‘There is an increasing requirement in industry for skills in this area, and we are delighted that our leading-edge expertise has again been recognised in the wider R&D community. We are especially pleased to be continuing to develop strong collaborations with important industrial companies.’

David Rees, a leading electronic engineer and industrialist, and Chairman of the CEESI-Training Board of Management, 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.’