Sometimes the subjects covered in engineering schools don’t keep pace with what today’s high-tech employers are looking for. Because technology is constantly changing, the most up-to-date information might not be covered in the curriculum.
Fortunately for today’s students, it has never been easier to supplement university coursework with online courses on hot technologies. You can acquire skills that reflect the demands of the job market. Although not all the content is free, there are many great resources that don’t cost a dime.
Not sure where to start? Try the following sources.
At Engineering.com, you can find e-books, research reports, white papers, and webinars about trends and technology developments such as 3D modeling, advanced manufacturing, and design software. Among the diverse topics available on the site are additive manufacturing, product life-cycle management software, and robotic automation. No matter what type of engineering you’re studying, you’re bound to find something to enhance your knowledge.
The new IEEE Learning Network gives you access to more than 700 courses, webinars, and eLearning programs. Some courses are free; others offer a discount to IEEE student members. You can build a competitive skill set for your future job hunt on such topics as autonomous vehicles, blockchain technology, edge computing, and the Internet of Things. Courses include introductory information and more complex material. New ones are added frequently.
The educational site Udemy has free courses that can introduce you to a variety of concepts. Its free resources include lectures on Python, a programming language that has become essential in the field of data science. Knowing how to code is a must for many professionals, not just for computer scientists. Python is a great choice for a first coding language because many employers are seeking engineers who know it.
Today almost every business manages vast amounts of data. Udemy can help you understand how to sift through large data sets: big data. Companies also are finding new applications every day for machine learning, with the most well known being predictive texting and face recognition. Such skills can make you more valuable to employers and more effective in the workplace.
Using online supplemental resources can help you not only while you are completing your engineering studies but also after graduation.
The resources listed above are a great place to start, but there are plenty of others you can take try. It’s important to find options that work for your learning style.
There’s no downside to gaining more knowledge and thinking ahead.
Source: spectrum
