Incorporating design of compact microstrip antenna in the wireless curricula for global applications

Abstract

Wireless communication systems have become of great importance with globalization trend that the world has experienced in recent years. It has become a significant part of the telecom and wireless industry. The future curriculum for Electrical Engineering in institutes of higher education across the globe should consider including a course in wireless communication. This would be so the graduates are able to cope with these changing industrial needs. It has been estimated that over 300,000 additional workers with wireless knowledge will be needed by 2005. Technology experts are addressing "infocom" in place of IT and telecommunications. Infocom is the convergence of Media (Internet, TV radio, printing, publishing etc.), Telecommunications (wireless, data, paging etc.), and Computers (hardware, software, networking, etc.). This rapid growth in wire less technology has created an acute shortage of RF engineers during the past decade. To develop manpower to cater to the needs of industry a number of colleges and universities have introduced a new course in the field of microwave antenna theory and techniques and communication systems [1, 2].