Curricular development required to support adaptive predictive expert control projects and business in industry

This paper has been written to identify the needs and competencies required for new graduate student intake in a small company dedicated to the design and build of process control systems for a variety of applications in a diverse range of industries. While emphasis has been placed on core technical competencies such as IT (Information Technology), electronics, control techniques, industrial process knowledge, project management and perhaps an ability to relate to diverse and unfamiliar industries from a control perspective, there is also an emphasis on the softer cognitive skills such as communication, presentation and being effective in a team. There should be a recognition among students that base skills will change as the industrial environment changes and new technologies emerge. The combination of skills required should lead therefore to a process of continuous improvement, change and life long learning well beyond the content of the course.