Leeds and Sheffield sign up with UK Electronics Skills Foundation

"UKESF welcomes the addition of Leeds and Sheffield to the programme," said Indro Mukerjee, pictured, chairman of the UKESF strategic advisory board. "By working with more of the UK's leading universities, we are able to introduce our industry partners to a wider pool of the most talented electronic engineering students for sponsorship through university. And, by providing work experience placements for them, our sponsors are able to develop relationships as an early start to their graduate recruitment process." UKESF is looking to reverse the decline in the number of British students following Electrical and Electronic Engineering degrees. According to UCAS data, there was a 26% drop in British applicants to EEE courses between 2002 and 2013. UKESF's scholarship scheme helps top students find work placements with up to 25 industry sponsors. Since 2010, employers have awarded 174 UKESF scholarships to students at its university partners and the number of scholarships offered each year is growing. Students at Leeds and Sheffield will now be able to apply for summer vacation and one year industrial training placements through UKESF. "The work that UKESF does to encourage more young people into electronic engineering degrees through its schools programme is just one of the reasons we are very pleased to have joined," said Professor Ian Robertson, Head of the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds. Professor Geraint Jewell, head of the University of Sheffield's Electronic and Electrical Engineering department, added: "We pride ourselves on the high percentage of our graduates that move directly into careers, so we are delighted to be part of a process that will further safeguard their future."