Course Overview
Instrumentation is defined as the process of using measuring instruments to control and monitor processes. In a scientific approach, it is the science concerned with measurement and control of processes within a manufacturing or production area among other technologically controlled environments. Instrumentation is important in quality control and product testing, monitoring in the interest of health, safety, system control as well as research and development among others. Control engineering on the other hand is an engineering field that mainly applies control theory to design systems with specific desired behaviours. Control and instrumentation is commonly used in engineering field. Professionals in this field may be referred to as control and instrumentation engineers (C&I engineers). The work of C&I engineers encompasses the design, development, installation as well as the maintenance of equipments which are normally used to monitor and control engineering processes, systems and machineries.
Instrumentation and control systems forms a major part of a production or process industry setup. In such environments, instruments are used to measure or monitor signals and then control the machinery or industrial processes accordingly. In most modern systems or machines where automation is involved, instrumentation and control form part of the system. Other areas where this technology is applied include; clinical and quality assurance, research and academic and standards laboratories among other applications. This therefore makes instrumentation and control very important in engineering and science. As Kenya moves towards vision 2030, there is need to produce competent instrumentation and control engineers ready to take up the challenges that come up with industrial revolution.
The Bachelor of Science in Instrumentation and Control Engineering is a five year course that has been designed to produce highly trained manpower in Instrumentation and Control Engineering and ready to take up the challenges in industrial research, industrial and commercial organizations among other industrial applications. The programme is industry-oriented and is designed to produce graduate engineers with skills and knowledge capable of adapting to technological changes and in line with government policy of vision 2030. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will have the skills and knowledge required to plan, design and develop effective control and instrumentation systems applicable in various areas such as; production, industrial research and commercial organizations including processing industries, aerospace industry as well as economic and business modelling among other areas.
Entry Qualifications
For self sponsored students, at least a mean grade of C+ in KCSE. For Government sponsored students, the minimum cut point which is announced annually applies. The students should in addition have good performance in the following cluster Subjects; Subject 1 MAT A, Subject 2 PHY, Subject 3 CHE, Subject 4 BIO or any GROUP III or any GROUP IV or any GROUP V.
Becoming a control and instrumentation engineer
If are good in maths, have interest in electronics and would like to have a sound understanding of how computers can be used to control the latest technologies or industrial processes, then pursuing this course might be a good choice for you. In addition, you should be prepared to develop skills that can help you grow and succeed in this field.
Control and instrumentation engineers are knowledgeable in wide topics in mathematics including; principles of calculus and other advanced topics in maths as they frequently use maths to analyze, design and troubleshoot control equipment and machineries. They also have good interpersonal skills that enable them to work with others during the manufacturing process to ensure that systems are controlled correctly; collaboration in this work may involve monitoring technicians and devising remedies to problems as they arise.
Control and instrumentation engineers are effective communicators able to explain design ideas clearly to non-technical staff for effective production process. Working in this field requires good critical thinking skills and the ability to design and develop complex measurement and control systems while at the same time keeping track of multiple design elements and technical characteristics when performing these tasks. The day to day work of these professionals involves many challenges, excellent problem solving skills and an ability to think outside the box are therefore essential and very important.
Work environment.
Control and instrumentation engineers work can be based in office, factory or in the lab among other environments.
Career opportunities
Graduates of this course can find work in manufacturing and processing companies among other industries. Typical areas of employment include; alcohol processing firms, food industry, aerospace sector, hospital automation systems & biomedical companies, production, light and heavy engineering, petrochemicals and biochemicals, power generation, automatic sorting operations, transport operations, industrial research and commercial organizations including processing industries as well as economic and business modelling. Graduates can also use their creativity and start their own businesses.
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