Programme Background and Rationale

Somaliland’s telecommunication industry has grown in the recent decades and the demand for competent individuals with in-depth knowledge and skills to run the operations in the telecommunication sector is large. It is with this background that Amoud University planned the bachelor of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering programme to produce graduates with solid grounding in theoretical knowledge and practical training. The practical proficiency is achieved through laboratory training, workshops, engineering projects and industrial training. Electronics is the subfield of Electrical Engineering that studies the behavior of electrons in semiconductors and applications based on it such as Electronic devices and communication systems. The discipline of Electronic Engineering deals with concepts of Solid-state Physics, Radio and Telecommunications, Control, Signal Processing, Electromagnetics and Computing. Electronic Engineering as a profession emerged from the technological improvements in the telegraph industry in the late 19th century and radio and television equipment industries in the early 20th century. This area of knowledge was known as radio engineering till the 1950’s when the term of Electronic Engineering started to emerge. Today, Electronics dominate our daily life activities such as calculators, light emitting diodes, television and radio equipment, mobile telephones and digital computers. The bachelor of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering is a programme that provides students with knowledge and skills required to analyze, design, assemble, test, operate and fix Electronic circuits and telecommunication systems. The programme contains three types of courses; first, fundamental theoretical courses such as Islamic studies, English reading and vocabulary, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, all of which are aiming at providing the student with linguistic competence, basic religious and scientific principles and analytical skills. Second, core theoretical courses which establish the professional knowledge of the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering field such as Electronics, wired and wireless communication, electromagnetism and signal processing courses. Third, core practical courses which enable the students to demonstrate the concepts learnt in the fundamental and core courses, verify electrical engineering theorems and design Electronics circuits and telecommunication networks and systems. The classroom and laboratory courses are complemented by an internship programme in which the student completes an industrial training.

Programme Objectives

General Objective

The aim of the bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering programme is to produce modern electronic and telecommunication engineers, with the most modern knowledge and skills for successful professional careers in the telecommunication sector. The programme is intended to produce professionals who will quickly get involved in the work process, with innovative mentality, self-confidence and ability to lead technology, business and society, to the future.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the programme, students should:

1. Acquire fundamental knowledge in math, science and engineering, and sufficient skills to design and operate Electronics equipment, data networks and telecommunication systems.
2. Design and construct safe, efficient and cost-effective electronic circuits, data networks and telecommunication systems.
3. Work as a team in addressing real life problems that may be encountered in the domain of electronics and telecommunications and provide optimal solutions.

Programme Duration

The programme run on a semester basis consisting of four semesters each lasting 17 weeks, or part-time basis as appropriately structured by the Faculty of Engineering and department of electronics and telecommunication engineering, and approved by Senate.

 Programme Modalities

The programme shall be conducted by course work, examinations and project, based on credit units. The last two weeks of each semester of each academic year shall normally be used for end-of-semester examinations. Further,

1. A student shall take foundation/general courses in English, mathematics, science, Arabic, Islamic studies during the first one year in the freshmen. The freshman year also acts as a gateway to full admission into the bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering programme.
2. By the end of junior year, a student shall be required to attend at least 300 hours of internship in a real work environment.
3. A student shall come up with a well-written project in the area of electronics and telecommunication engineering during the senior year of study.

 Curriculum Plan

The programme shall run on a semester basis consisting of eight (8) semesters each lasting 17 weeks in a period of four (4) academic years, whether on full time, part-time, sandwich, or online or other modes as structured by the Faculty of Engineering, and department of electronics and telecommunication engineering, and approved by Senate.

General Regulations

General University regulations and guidelines for undergraduate programmes shall apply with regard to application, registration, teaching, learning, examinations, research and graduation. A student is required to sign a memorandum of understanding during the registration process on pre-scribed forms.

 Admission Requirements

This bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering programme is best suited to students with interest in becoming future telecommunication engineers and computer network administrators in telecommunication firms. To qualify for admission into the degree of bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering, an applicant shall:

1. Hold a Somaliland GCSE of at least Grade “C”, or its equivalent from a recognized examination body.
2. Successfully complete the freshman programme at Amoud University, and attain a GPA of at least 2.00.
3. Meet other conditions as spelt out by the Faculty of Engineering and the department of electronics and telecommunication engineering, with approval of Senate.

Enrolment Types

There shall be three (3) categories of enrolments as follows:

1. Full-Time Day face-to-face enrolled students who shall attend classes between 7.30 am 4.30 pm from Saturday to Thursday.
2. Full-Time Evening face-to-face enrolled students who shall attend classes between 4.00 pm and 10.00 pm from Saturday to Thursday.
3. Sandwich, part-time, and other modes enrolled students who shall attend classes during specific periods as specified by the Faculty of Engineering and department of electronics and telecommunication engineering, and approved by Senate.

Staff, Facilities and Equipment

The faculty of Engineering and the department of electronics and telecommunication engineering have adequate resources to offer this undergraduate programme. The faculty has three (3) functional and well equipped computer laboratories fitted with over-head digital projectors and personal computers. In addition, the faculty has an engineering and computational laboratory, with state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment, including transport nodes, data packet routers, voice over IP gears, and a cluster of Linux workstations for protocols development and testing, that provide extensive facilities for research in telecommunications, microelectronics, and computer science. The telecommunication laboratory has training kits for fiber optics, antennas, microwaves, among others. Students attend extended industrial attachment training periods to gain experience and get exposed to the real equipment used in electronics and telecommunication engineering.

The main university library has an array of information materials for further reading, and several electronic books and reference materials available through Amoud University Google classroom suite. The faculty has a well balanced team of highly competent local and non-local staff, trained locally and abroad. The teaching staff is readily available to help students as needs arise. The programme is allocated sufficient time and with efficient management, the faculty ensures that students complete the programme on time.

Funding

The programme of bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering is sustained largely by funds from tuition fees and other relevant levies. The student must show proof of ability to pay tuition fees on time before being enrolled into the programme. There are no special funding arrangements for the students enrolled in the programme of bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering. However, if and when, additional funds are available, they shall be dispensed according to the university policies.

Target Groups

The target group for the bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering programme includes but is not limited to:

1. Students who have successfully completed Somaliland General Secondary School Certificate (SGCSE) or its equivalent from a recognized examination body and further completed Amoud University freshman academic year successfully and who wish to pursue a career in electronics and telecommunication engineering.
2. People who are already working in the field of electronics and telecommunication engineering or related fields but would like to add new skills set to their professional work and attain formal certification in electronics and telecommunication engineering.
3. Other persons with insight in electronics and telecommunication engineering and who want to pursue the challenge of electronics and telecommunication engineering at the undergraduate degree level.

 Expected Programme Outcomes

The graduates of the bachelor of electronics and telecommunication engineering programme should be persons who are:

1. Expert consultants in electronics engineering, data networks, and telecommunication systems who offer solutions to the challenges of public and private organizations at the local and international levels as well as for private individuals.
2. Employees of companies who are responsible for analyzing, designing, developing, maintaining or re-engineering Electronics, data networks, and telecommunication systems for the specific needs of the corporate firms and private organizations.
3. Self-employed electronics engineers, who can analyze the market, identify the needs and challenges and develop working solutions to fill such gaps.
4. Qualified candidates for post-graduate studies who are able to pursue higher academic degrees in the same field or any field of eligibility.