A distance learning approach to EMC education and training

The proliferation of computing devices and electronics equipment has been accompanied by an increase in unwanted electromagnetic emissions thus increasing the risk of electrical/electronic equipment malfunction due to interference. This trend has been accompanied by attempts to control unwanted emissions from equipment and to confer an intrinsic level of EM immunity to equipment by virtue of standards. This has culminated in the EC Directive on EMC, which is essential to the Single European Market and aims to ensure a reliable environment for the operation of all electrical/electronic equipment and broadcast services. Electromagnetic compatibility is an ideal topic for the distance learning approach because many engineering courses did not include the subject until recently and, more importantly perhaps, the need to comply with the EC Directive 89/336/EEC and the various CENELEC standards has resulted in a substantial training requirement to which the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) has responded.<>