The M.S. In Electronics and Computer Control Systems: A Strategic Educational Partnership Between Wayne State University and the Ford Motor Company

Abstract

EXTENDED ABSTRACT The 1993–1994 academic year commemorates the tenth anniversary of the M. S. in Electronics and Computer Control Systems (ECCS) program. This program is part of an extraordinary strategic partnership between Ford and Wayne State University which was originally established to deal with a severe shortage of microprocessor control system skills among Ford engine designers. These designers, for the most part holders of a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, faced major challenges in dealing with the pervasive impact of computer control systems to replace mechanical and electro-mechanical systems on gasoline engines. Microprocessor systems were found to be necessary for engine emission control coupled with enhanced performance and fuel economy. The ECCS program was planned to go beyond providing application knowledge for implementation of the EEC chip; the intent was to provide a fundamental knowledge base to provide Ford Engineers with advanced design tools to deal with the pervasive integration of electronic control into virtually every automotive subsystem. The subject material in the course sequence has evolved along with the technology, but the basic structure of the interdisciplinary program, with participation from the departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science at WSU, has not changed from when the program was introduced in 1983. The program is continuously scrutinized for prospective improvements not only by WSU faculty, but by a dedicated group of Ford technical managers who serve on both the ECCS Steering Committee and the Curriculum Subcommittee. Currently, most students in the ECCS program come to it from Computer and Electrical Engineering backgrounds, a change from ten years ago. This program provides a leadership role in the development of industry-sited University-based educational activities. Two examples include the introduction of sophisticated interactive Distance Learning techniques for the entire four subject program core, and the parallel introduction of this program for Ford technical staff in England and Germany. The USA program currently enrolls 150 Ford employees in a typical semester, in six subjects, two of which are in the Distance Learning mode of instruction. For 1993–1994, 40 degree recipients are anticipated in the USA, with an additional 20 graduates in Europe. There have been well over 300 graduates in the ECCS program to date, and further moderate growth is likely. In addition to providing a focus on long-term educational development, the program has short-term relevance in enhancing Ford employee productivity. For example, out of seven student group software development projects undertaken in ECE 660, Engineering Software Design (Fall 1992), five projects have been successfully incorporated into the Ford production, management and design procedure. The increased emphasis in the program on project assignments as an instructional tool provides students with real-life opportunities to learn in an industrial environment, as opposed to an academic environment. At the same time, regular WSU faculty see this program as providing them with new learning experiences which are particularly relevant in their attempts to deal with the real-world engineering environment. This experience also allows them to bring to their classes particularly pertinent teaching examples. In order to enhance the educational process, Ford currently arranges to provide over $250,000. each year to regular WSU faculty teaching at Ford sites as part of their normal teaching load. This competitive award activity, which provides from $20,000. to $40,000. for each faculty awardee, gives direct and productive involvement in ongoing Ford research and development activities. This leads to a better faculty appreciation for the technical challenges facing Ford, better classroom examples during instruction, and a superb basis for communication between WSU faculty and Ford students and their technical managers. At the present time the ECCS degree sequence is a thesis optional program, but only a few graduates have pursued this option. One future challenge is a transition to a higher level of M. S. thesis involvement, thereby allowing students to contribute their expertise earlier to Ford specific projects and problems. This will also optimize the communication and learning links between faculty, students and technical staff, further breaking down the barriers between industry and the University.