ADMC offers Mechatronics

Abu Dhabi Men's College (ADMC) yesterday announced a new higher diploma programme in Mechatronics engineering technology, designed to provide students with multi-disciplinary skills.

The two-year diploma programme will start from September next year, admitting 20 students initially, and a programme advisory is being set up to review the curriculum meeting the industry requirements.

The higher diploma is a general engineering programme imparting multi-disciplinary skills in mechanical, electronic and control engineering. The new programme was announced in the presence of industry representatives including Mustafa Al Hendi, Head of Adma-Opco's Training and Development, and Nizar Luqman, Training and Career Development Team Leader at Zakum Development Company (Zadco).

"The programme includes core courses which are designed in consultation with industry to be fundamental for all practising engineering technologists regardless of disciplines," said Dr Tayeb A. Kamali, Director of the ADMC.

It also includes three engineering applications, covering engineering skills required for component manufacturing, electronic testing and fabrication, and welding.

"There are six courses which cover principles and technology for mechanical engineering, and six courses to cover principles and technology for service engineering to bias the programme towards industrial maintenance," he added.

Dr Kamali added that the programme is practical intensive and the advisory committee will look into this aspect and suggest ways to enhance the practical work.

After the completion of the higher diploma in Mechatronics, students will be ready for positions as engineering technologists or maintenance supervisors in services and manufacturing industries.

They will be able to work in plants and manufacturing facilities in industries such as military workshops, steel or aluminium plants, petrochemical process industries and food manufacturing.

Dr Kamali said the new higher diploma programme is a result of a focus group meeting involving all major local industry representatives.

"There was an overwhelming consensus on the need for such a programme to meet the long standing industry demand for technologists in the mechanical career stream, particularly in the oil and gas industry and in Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea)," he said.

Dr Senthil, Head of Engineering at the ADMC, said that a set of optional courses will also be available with the programme. The courses are a mix of electronics, pneumatics and hydraulics, control fundamentals, programmable logic control and manufacturing courses.

"These optional courses provide additional breadth to cover a variety of skills that would allow the graduates to fill positions within a diversity of manufacturing and service industries," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Hendi hoped that the programme will help Adma-Opco in implementing emiratisation policy. The company has set a target of replacing 50 per cent of its work force with nationals.

"It is a challenging task we have to achieve by 2004," he said.