It continues to surprise that the subject of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering does not draw more young people into the profession, either at
Technician or Graduate Engineer level. It is rewarding, both financially and
intellectually, whatever the particular role chosen. There are exciting roles
for every personality, both for men and women, in manufacturing, produc-
tion, design, R&D, teaching, management...the list is long; and there are
opportunities for travel. Above all perhaps, it is a profession that provides
service to the community, whether through the technology of a washing
machine, a mobile phone, a laptop, satellite communications, the electrical
power system, new renewable generating equipment, electric vehicles both
on and off rails...that list is even longer. Engineers are the driving force
that brings ideas from the drawing board to the marketplace.
A widely publicized fact is the decline in uptake of science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools and colleges. Yet
businesses regularly report a shortage of young people with STEM skills.
How can a modern technological economy thrive without them? Why might
this be the case? A recent survey by the Institution of Engineering and
Technology suggests a number of issues:
•A lack of relevant subject material in the curriculum.
•STEM subjects are viewed as hard so that, in an environment where there
is an emphasis on getting good grades, there is a perceived difficulty in
getting a good grade in STEM.
•The learning process is passive with less and less time spent on practical
work.
•Perceptions about success in STEM are negative, the technologically
adept being seen as ‘nerds’. This extends into careers such that students
don’t perceive STEM subjects as a passport to lucrative and interesting
jobs.
An added concern is the lack of women in the profession, the result, perhaps,
of outdated views of engineering.
We hope then that the subject material of this the eleventh edition of
Hughes will help you extend your own knowledge of STEM subjects, and
that you will be encouraged to pursue a career in Electrical and Electronic
Engineering. When studying gets hard, as it invariably does, remember the
huge range of exciting opportunities within the profession and that there is
a well-documented and continuing shortage of Technician and Graduate
engineers.
We might claim that this is the fiftieth birthday edition of Hughes, the
preface to the first edition having been written in April 1959. It is an honour
to be editors of the book, earlier editions of which illuminated our own
xviii
PREFACE TO THE ELEVENTH EDITION
undergraduate studies, as it passes this landmark. Once again, we acknowl-
edge the support of our families during the course of preparation of this new
edition, which is dedicated to our respective wives, Wendy and Judy.
John Hiley
Keith Brown
Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh
August 2011
