Southampton student branch of IEEE voted best in UK

The University of Southampton student chapter of the IEEE, which is based in ECS-Electronics and Computer Science, has received a regional award (Europe, Middle East and Africa), for its outstanding programme and organization this year.

The Southampton branch, sponsored this year by Roke Manor Research, is one of 12 university branch winners of the ‘IEEE Regional Exemplary Student Branch Award’, and the only one in the UK. The prize recognizes in particular the efforts of the 2010/11 student committee.

James Snowdon, Branch Chairman, PhD student in the Institute of Complex Systems Simulation and an ECS alumnus, said: “Over the year our student branch organized an average of one event a week, ranging from academic and careers talks, from companies such as McLaren, Detica and Imagination Technologies, to workshops and guided tours of research facilities.

“Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of ECS students and staff we enjoyed very good attendance and levels of participation throughout the year, and the recently appointed new committee looks set to continue this success in the next academic year.”

Dr Geoff Merrett of the ECS Electronic and Software Systems group commented: “This is a great accomplishment for the branch, recognising their excellent efforts over the past year.

“The branch is run entirely by undergraduate and postgraduate students in ECS, and this achievement highlights the independence, self-motivation and broad skillset of our students.

“Being part of the branch committee has given the students the opportunity to gain experience in organising events, managing budgets, marketing, outreach and interacting with professionals outside of the University. Their efforts have allowed the whole student body to broaden their knowledge, connect with employers, and to interact with the IEEE - the world's largest professional association for the advancement of technology.”