Coming up, course in embedded systems

The Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce is starting a three-month evening course in embedded systems. 8220;This is the first course of its kind in Pune, which will give hands on training on ARM processor embedded systems to the students,8221; said Rajendra Zunjarrao, principal of the College. This will be a weekend course that will include lectures, demonstrations and training.

8220;We shall start issuing the admission forms within a week. However, the date of the course will be decided only after we get at least 10 registrations per batch,8221; Zunjarrao said, adding that the course will be conducted thrice a year. The fees for the course will be Rs 2000 and the certificates, on completion of the course, will be issued by Progressive Education Society PES. Presently, training in embedded system is mostly given only by the industries, said Prof D B Gaikwad of the Department of Electronic Science. Speaking about the need to have a course on embedded systems for undergraduate and postgraduate students, Dr K S Chari, scientist, Information Technology and Communication Ministry, Government of India said, 8220;By 2015, Indian is expected to import electronic hardware worth Rs 320 billion dollars, of which 80 percent will be embedded systems. This import can be reduced only when the country has its own skilled manpower and experienced faculty.8221; He said that there is a wide scope for career opportunities for embedded system designers and testers as these systems are used in almost every field -telecommunication, health, biotechnology, defence, environment monitoring, agriculture and infrastructure development. Chari was in the college to inaugurate the three-day national workshop on 8216;Embedded System Development with hands on training, using ARM processor8217; on Monday. 8220;For instance, voting machines, medical implants, close circuit TV cameras, automobile systems, wildlife monitors, chemical and biological sensors all have an embedded system as its core technology,8221; Chari explained. Other than this course, the college has also applied for a postgraduate research centre in electronics with the University of Pune, which is expected to start within a year. 8220;The importance of this centre is that teachers from Modern College and nearby colleges can come here for research excluding their work hours, which is not always possible while researching in the University of Pune,8221; Zunjarrrao said. The research centre will accommodate up to 16 students, 8 for the PhD degree and 8 forM.Phil degree. The centre is expected to start within a year, he said. This is the sixth research centre in the college after botany, zoology, microbiology, life sciences and commerce.