VIEW Academics

At Project VIEW, we bridge academia and industry seamlessly. Academics play a vital role in shaping skilled professionals, and at VIEW, we make it accessible and practical. We believe in creating a dynamic learning environment where theoretical knowledge meets real-world applications.

By emphasizing a strong academic foundation, we equip individuals with the essential skills needed for success in the ever-changing industry landscape. Our collaborative initiatives aim not only to enhance academic learning, but also to ensure its smooth integration into real-world challenges.

At Project VIEW, we’re all about making academic knowledge practical and preparing undergraduates and graduates to excel in their fields.

EEE with Context [Academics]

EEE Engineering

You know that’s tautology right? EEE in itself means Electrical and Electronics Engineering, so adding an extra engineering makes it kinda…ah well.

First, you need to understand what Engineering is. Why? Simply because that’s the bigger picture.

According to Google, Engineering is the practice of using science and mathematics…blah blah blah…nope! I can’t do that to you. Enough of the textbook definition.

It’s just organizing the forces of nature to satisfy a human need.

The human need here means the “desire of a person for something to happen”. It can be morally right or wrong, reasonable or unreasonable, beneficial or detrimental. This usually forms the core of the problem that requires the engineering.

From the definition, key phrases are
1. organizing the forces of nature
2. Satisfy a human need

Learn to do these two perfectly and you’re already an engineer. It’s always the 2nd that determines the scope of the 1st.

Now, let’s talk about the forces of nature.

There’re several natural forces in the world of Science and it brings to the table the different fields of Engineering. Of course, Electrical/Electronic engineering is a part.

What then is EEE?

EEE is simply satisfying human needs by organizing natural forces, only that, this time, force summoned is the movement of charges. It is your job to ensure that when charges move, the desired effect happens. That’s comes by way of controlling the processes before, during and after this movement. As an EEE student, your duty is to learn how to just do that. Easy right? Yeah I guess.

Now that you’ve a fair idea about the profession, let’s expand the convo.

In the EEE world, there are two (2) majors branches under which all the other divisions can be placed. Technically, one is actually a specific subset of the other, only that it is too specific broad and, hence, considered a branch on its own.

These two branches of Electrical and Electronics Engineering are
1. Electrical Engineering
2. Electronics Engineering.

Funny right? Who would’ve guessed?

Electrical Engineering

Remember we talked about causing the desired effect through the movement of electrical charges. It is this movement that brings about electricity, i.e electrical energy and electric power.

Electrical Engineering is the engineering discipline that has more direct concerns about the flow of electrical power. It deals with getting the power to flow from one point to another – how to generate, transmit and distribute electricity under desired conditions. Since it appreciates the direct flow very much, little to no middle components are welcomed in the setup as possible as it can be without compromising the operation, efficiency, quality and safety.

People mostly associate the discipline with large-scale power generation, transmission, distribution and usage, but it also has low-power applications.

A typical example is the classical lamp. When you open up and look at the electrical circuit, it is straightforward a wire connecting the bulb to the switch to the batteries.

Nothing is easy and this applies to Electrical Engineering too. It is as hard and demanding as any other study one can find, so it all comes down to how passionate you are about the field and the values it can present to you. If you feel you have what it takes and the exchange is worth it, you are likely to endure whatever it throws at you.

For beginners, EE can be very overwhelming because the curriculum looks packed and intense. The courses demand more from students at every point and the nightmares seem unending. You can help yourself by first really understanding the objectives of each course and putting them into relatable perspectives. Then, learn the basics and build on from there. At the end, you have to know the benefits of the courses to your engineering path.

Careers and jobs in Electrical Engineering are unlimited as it is even the main branch. The potential of electricity being used almost everywhere provides a plethora of opportunities for employment in the industry.

As an electrical engineer, you are needed anywhere electricity is invited and cherished – which is almost the entire world. It is understandable you might want to work in EE companies where main operations are concentrated on the EE field, like the electric power producers and distributors, electrical equipment manufacturers, mining companies, processing plants, other firms with large industrial electrical machines. However, there are also the medium and low-point firms where constant and safe electricity is a must. For instance, hospitals, broadcasting stations, universities, etc. all have special spots for electrical engineers.

About the salary, EE is one of the top-paying industries. The average salary for entry-level electrical engineers (newly employed graduates with little experience) in Ghana is pretty decent and well above GHS 2500 per month. Bringing to the table a level of expertise and experience can shoot it higher. This is why you need to earn EE degree from a reputable accredited college/university and enrich yourself with internships, practical endeavors and personal projects.

In Ghana, the colleges include KNUST, UMaT, UENR, Technical universities, etc.

Electronics Engineering

How to study and understand EEE

Knowing what you are in for and how the road should be, at each exact point, is something everyone wishes for in the career journey. What we want to do is to condition ourselves in the right state and begin on the right note. Engineering is no different and certainly is EEE.

In every knowledge, there’s a skill. This leads to the two schools of focus in every learning system – studentship and apprenticeship.

To get ahead in the game, you must be well versed in both schools. Maybe we can start with getting to know what they really are.

Being a student primarily implies the focus is on knowledge acquisition. It’s usually targets the broader perspective of a topic, as you’re expected to understand the underlying phenomenon and how relevant the knowledge can be used in different cases.

It holds the notion that once you get the “know” and apply it, the “know-how” will naturally come along. This system has been adopted by schools and universities, especially with the non-vocational degrees. If you are pursuing a degree and it’s in a non-vocational or non-technical institution, please realize you’re going to be a student of the particular program.

As a result, the general knowledge and understanding won’t be a problem, but the skills related to the field will majorly rely on your personal efforts.

This is to give you a hot tip as you pursue the EEE degree at the university. You’re an EEE student, so don’t expect them to treat you like the other school of thought, which is the topic in our next discussion.

The other school of thought believes there’s no better way to teach than to experience. After all, the wise men say “Experience is the best teacher”. The focus is on how to know and quickly apply it in order to learn more during the process.

It’s usually specific and doesn’t worry much about the general or broader perspective; specific knowledge, specific application, specific skill. At the end of the day, you’ll be good at “doing” something and not just knowing about it. This is the Apprenticeship side of the learning system.

We can now decide whether we want to be EEE students or EEE apprentices, but it’s clear situations will require we oscillate between the two in order to survive.

This is why VIEW recommends we treat ourselves as subscribers to both schools of thought and embody them perfectly. That way, we’re assured of success in either entrepreneurship or employment.

KNUST Electrical Engineering

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, offers BSc. Electrical and Electronic Engineering which is a 4-year undergraduate program under its department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

This degree program is highly competitive, but does not involve post-application interviews or entrance exams. To gain admission, applicants must meet these minimum entry requirements.

For WASSCE/SSSCE applicants, they need credit passes in these 3 core subjects: English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science. They also require credit passes in Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry. These practically restrict admission to students who offered Science at the high school level.

If you are an ‘O’ Level applicant, just credit passes in five (5) subjects including English Language and Mathematics are needed. However, ‘A’ Level or its equivalent applicants must have either credit passes in Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics and an ‘O’ Level credit in Chemistry or credit passes in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

Mature applicants can be admitted if they are, first, 25 years and above and have either credit passes in five (5) subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, at the ‘O’ Level or they possess credit passes in three (3) WASSCE/SSSCE core subjects (English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science) and credit passes in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

Due to the competitiveness, the cut off points for EEE in KNUST are reported as 08 for main campus and 11 for Obuasi campus admission.

The school fees are usually published before the start of every first semester and they come in collective groups. For College of Engineering at KNUST, the fees for 2023/2024 academic year is GHS 3535.99. Since the value changes from year to year, here is the link to assess information on the KNUST academic fees.

To help you excel in the program right from the scratch, VIEW provides you invaluable resources. The first essential material is the course outline for KNUST Electrical Engineering. With this, you will know what courses to expect during your stay and how you can get the best out of them.VIEW KNUST Electrical Engineering Course Outline

Electrical Today is also another resource to help you keep up with the Electrical and Electronics Engineering industry.