MECHATRONICS COURSE IN UNIVERSITIES

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Education whether the Mechatronics course will be introduced into the universities to enable students who have completed the 3-year diploma course in polytechnics to continue pursuing this course to obtain a degree, and if this course is being pursued by students in foreign universities, whether the degree will be recognised by the Professional Engineers Board in Singapore.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Speaker, Sir, Mechatronics is a discipline which evolved from the growing trend in technology to merge electronics engineering with mechanical engineering. It is a multi-disciplinary activity involving the integration of mechanical devices, actuators, sensors, electronics, intelligent controllers and computers.

The Mechatronics courses at the polytechnics, like other courses, are designed to enable their graduates to meet the needs of industry. The diploma may be accepted for admission into the second year of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering courses at NUS and NTU if the candidate meets the admission requirements. The universities currently do not have plans to introduce a Mechatronics course at the undergraduate level.

The Professional Engineers Board in Singapore is the professional body which sets the criteria and guidelines for recognition of Engineering degrees for purposes of registering its members. It is up to the Board to decide whether to recognise any foreign Mechatronics degree.