By Cate Foley
The publication of this article, the computer I typed it on, the algorithm that brought you to this page— none of it would be possible without the work of electrical engineers. From the design of electric motors to the circuitry within our cellphones, electrical and electronic engineers have built the technology that has enabled the globalized society we have today. These industries have also enabled proliferation of AI into everyday life through the design of hardware that allows it to function.
Not only has AI heightened the demand for electrical engineers, but it is increasingly evolving the scope of the field. The proliferation of AI systems across industries requires engineers that can conceptualize and build designs to meet the demands of an evolving world— for example, the integration of AI into transportation engineering for further automation in aircrafts. As AI boosts efficiency, it creates space for engineers to tackle broader projects in an evolving landscape.
Power electronics and the Internet of Things are naturally positioned to be made more automated and efficient by AI integration. The power grid is a notable example of the efficiency granted by pattern recognition and decision making in AI. Machine learning can automate the grid, allowing it to predict and deter faults and adjust energy availability based on the availability of renewable resources. The increasingly diversified and modernized power grid is a reflection of the growing demand placed on it by data centers. It is just one example of the increasingly integrated nature of the built environment and its reliance on collaboration across industries.
With AI expanding what is possible for engineers, it has added to the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of their projects, wherein they must be able to think across systems— how might a semiconductor be altered based on its function or the availability of materials? Electrical engineers must have the skillset to troubleshoot increasingly intertwined electrical systems that rely on evolving algorithms and hardware, in addition to designing technology that enables AI implementation across industries.
In the face of an evolving field, engineers must be adaptable to the increased problems and conceptions that arise with increased expertise and productivity.
At the Fung Institute, electrical engineers add depth and breadth to their skill stack through a diversity of learning experiences that narrow the gap between undergraduate education and industry expectations.
Only through practical, hands-on experience do engineers refine their judgement and troubleshooting abilities. Within the Capstone experience, they partake in a nine-month-long research and development project, often concerning the software or hardware that enable AI’s continued proliferation into the everyday. Whether advised by an industry partner or College of Engineering faculty member, MEng students expand their technical skillset through completion of a project that leverages AI and various partnerships. By the time graduates enter industry, their skillsets reflect a breadth of abilities and experiences that prepare them to lead and succeed in an evolving field.
Although the innovation granted by AI has expanded the scope of the electrical engineering industry, the people-facing nature of engineering is more important than ever. AI is an additional collaborator, another layer of confidence in verifying a complicated calculation or easily aggregating disparate data. Engineers can leverage AI to simplify or standardize a workflow, but they must be able to rationalize results and explain them to collaborators so as never to sacrifice the quality of their work. AI expands access to technical skill stacks, but it is not a replacement for the interpersonal nature of the job.
The Fung Institute curriculum instills graduates with a breadth of communication and leadership abilities that enable strong industry placements and success in the long term. Susan Houlihan, Continuing Lecturer of ENGIN 295: Communications for Engineering Leaders, shares that the Institute is distinguished by its draw to students from across the globe, which enables the “opportunity for them to explore crosscultural and global communication and teamwork [that] is so relevant to their work.”
The curriculum is rooted in project-based learning that sharpens engineers’ skillsets, while adding depth through technical and communication courses. The diversity of learning experiences exposes them to assorted deliverables, communication, and work styles they will inevitably encounter in industry, enhancing their adaptability as engineers.
Having worked in electrical engineering before teaching at Berkeley, Houlihan explains that the way in which engineers “show up” in the workplace is what distinguishes them most. Whether it be the ability to advocate for themselves, communicate a complex design, or convey emotion in their presentations, “it’s how you show up in every moment,” Houlihan shares, which she emphasizes is “not just about the content of their message,” but “the impact that their voice, their body language, and their energy as they communicate with others.”
This focus on career readiness, from body language in the work place to a diverse skillset, is a cornerstone of the Fung Institute. While courses such as Power & Persuasion for Engineers equip graduates with the communication skills to succeed in corporate settings, the collaboration across concentrations prepares them for working on interdisciplinary teams. With early exposure to leveraging assorted skill stacks and mitigating conflict, Fung engineers are distinguished by their keen communication abilities that ensures their ability to connect with others. Not only are they attuned to systems and the interconnected nature of their projects, but they are able to communicate the intent and impact of their designs more clearly.
The ability to build relationships and communicate clearly across borders sets engineers apart in an age when AI-enhanced technical capabilities are increasingly common. As Dr. Houlihan shares, the “engineers that stand out are able to build trust with others.” Not only are they able to speak off the cuff about their ideas, but they form meaningful relationships with collaborators through impactful communication, and evade conflict by leveraging different skill stacks.
Despite the productivity gained by AI and automation of systems, the most impactful designs continue to be those built with humanity. The Fung Institute builds the people-centered skills of the job that deepen an engineer’s ability to connect, problem solve, and innovate.