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SCMP Reporter

The department of electrical engineering at Polytechnic University (PolyU) plans  to promote its programme more proactively to young hopefuls and, in particular,   women students.
Ho Siu-lau, chair professor of electricity utilisation and head of the  electrical engineering department,  said the  unit had kept a relatively low profile in the past and people probably had very little idea about what  it represented.
'There is a misunderstanding that electrical engineering involves hard labour and that it is definitely not something for girls.
'Even parents tend to have a negative attitude towards their children who are studying in the field,' he said.
Professor Ho said there were 48 new students  in the department this year - and only seven of them were women.
'Electrical engineering is not something for men only. We would like to take in more members of the opposite sex to study the programme.
'This is especially true when we see a larger number of women than men entering  universities these days,' he said.
'It will be fine if they have a logical and mathematical mind. In fact, women are usually more careful and attentive than men and, in our experience, their academic results are often very good.'
Professor Ho said the department would reach out to students in secondary schools and  in the community to promote its programme and explain what electrical engineering was really about.
In the programme development, he said the department would add more weight and resources to research and study in relation to the power and transport  markets.
The department has researched and developed a photonic monitoring system with the use of fibre-optic sensors to ensure the structural integrity  of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation's (KCRC) rail network.
The sensors are mounted on guiding rails and on the under-carriage of passenger cars.
These sensors provide a wealth of information  on strain, vibration, temperature and other stresses.  The PolyU-KCRC Smart Railway Research Laboratory was established at the campus to  further research  the railway's structural health.
Professor Ho said the department was also engaged in the research and development of electric motor vehicles, and looked at  energy efficiency, reducing body weight and improving controllability. Other research was focused on the application of technology to develop a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp at a lower cost, he said.
'The HID lamps available on the market are expensive. We try to come up with solutions with our technology to reduce the cost and price of the device,' he said
'Our research results in different areas, such as the railway monitoring system, have  good potential of being commercialised to generate revenue. But we have to put in more effort  before we can reap the rewards.'
Professor Ho said its research studies would also enhance its teaching and provided an opportunity for students to work on real cases and problems.
With  regards to courses in relation to the railway, the department has lined up professional engineers to give lectures and share their experiences in the real business world.
He also said the programme content was enriched to broaden the study and knowledge learning, and from the second year  onwards, students could choose elective courses according to their interest.
In the final year, they could even take up some of the master's programme courses.
According to Professor Ho, the department planned to expand the programme further with new content on the power market, budgeting and carbon trading to enhance students' capabilities and their career development.
'Students will be able to go through broader-based training with our programme. In addition to the profession of engineering, they can turn to other related fields in future if they want,' he said.



Women wanted to power department