Electronic Engineering Projects in the Community

All under-graduate students in the Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway undertake projects in the third year (group projects) and final year (individual projects) of their degree programme. This initiative optionally allows a student to complete a service learning based project in either third or fourth year in partnership with external organisations representing individuals with disabilities. These project modules run for the complete duration of the first and second semester and the expectation is that students will design and build a prototype system for use and evaluation by clients of the partner organisations at the end of the project.

The key objectives of the of service learning are to enhance students engineering and technical skills through the project work and to increase their awareness of inclusiveness when designing electronic and computer systems. The initiatives attempt to foster a close interaction between the student and the partner organisations by ensuring there is co-operation throughout the project life cycle from the initial technology and needs review stage to the final delivery of a prototype system and its use and evaluation by clients of the organisations. At all stages in the project, the student meets with the partner organisation and their clients to present their design ideas and to receive feedback from the future users of their proposed systems in order to enhance their designs.