edoMidas Advanced Presentation Skills headed up the training programme, centring on an intensive two-day programme. The aim being to introduce attendees to a proven, research-based approach that sought to provide them with powerful techniques to enhance their presentations, engage with their chosen audience and hone their personal style.

Students were introduced to the strategies and tactics used by highly successful presenters and covered all types of presentations e.g. persuasive, informative, conference, formal and informal, and then had to deliver a short presentation on a range of subjects; not merely aimed at a technical audience, but from research, to a hobby, to completely off the wall; the choice being completely up to the team.

The groups also worked on a case study, focusing on an international medical device firm looking to identify an appropriate smartphone for corporate use. The company had to firstly identify a cohesive integrated platform to link the capture of data from individual roles without the use of a laptop; key users would be sales staff, application engineers, and clinicians. The company shortlisted three smartphone platforms – Apple iOS4, BlackBerry and Nokia Symbian from which to choose.

The challenge was then to prepare a brief presentation explaining the benefits of using the chosen smartphone platform. The aim being to present a picture of the team’s values and competencies, and how they would differentiate themselves from the competition. In particular, focusing on concerns around security, accessibility of user interface, and compatibility with the company’s office databases (powered by Microsoft).

The group’s were reminded that as presenting teams they must ensure that they were sufficiently co-ordinated and projected consistent messages to their audience. Aside from content, it was indicated that teams should seek to present their case with conviction, passion and confidence.

The result was a highly stimulating, relevant and highly enjoyable programme and provided attendees with the essential skills that could be transferred and used throughout their career, whilst providing powerful techniques that could simultaneously work to instil individuals with confidence in delivering audience-focused presentations.

The latest recruits to join the ranks of Scotland’s top young engineers have been unveiled at a graduation ceremony celebrating the achievements of students from the Institute for System Level Integration (ISLI).

The institute’s graduates, who have gone on to employment with a range of international companies such as Toshiba Medical, ARM, and Selex Galileo, have won a raft of academic industry prizes in the past, including the prestigious Student Engineer of the Year award which was carried off by ISLI Research Engineer, Carol Marsh. There was a total of 32 EngD students graduating on the day, and four of them from ISLI. The institute has a series of exciting years ahead of them with a further 30 students to graduate in the coming years.

The Institute for System Level Integration’s new MSc in Sensor Networks is set to provide students with the key skills and knowledge required to develop industrial solutions at the cutting edge of this rapidly growing field. An industry-focused programme, the course is designed to support graduates looking to develop skills in sensor networks, data processing and communications. The core skills gained could then be used in a range of end applications including renewable energy, smart grid, human health / community healthcare, consumer electronics, smart transport, aerospace, unmanned airborne vehicles, environmental monitoring and control.

The Institute has a reputation for producing a series of award-winning graduates, all achieving employment in top-level companies. Indeed, the new MSc programme provides invaluable training in the crucial sensor networks technologies including sensing, wireless communications, embedded processing and control, and as a result students will develop an in-depth understanding of sensor-based systems, often wireless, that can be applied to a number of differing sectors.

Providing a competitive edge, the MSc project allows students to gain cutting-edge experience of industrially structured multi-role research, creating graduates with cross-disciplinary understanding and an ability to operate effectively within mixed hardware/software groups.

Students will also have the advantage of conducting an industry-focused project,completing the individual project in a group environment at ISLI, yet designed to mimic real-world design engineering and thus provides genuine relevance to future employment goals. ISLI uses its extensive commercial networks to foster direct engagement between staff of UK companies and the student cohort to source appropriate projects. And with this, industrially experienced engineering staff from ISLI will support and supervise projects, imparting students with a realistic experience of small-team commercial R&D, resulting in students learning how to interface between disciplines and to apply their new skills efficiently and effectively to demanding multi-domain development tasks.

The career opportunities on offer are extensive, with students graduating with domain-appropriate skills suitable for a broad range of impressive careers within the fields of aerospace, consumer electronics, health, industrial automation, energy, defence, space and environmental monitoring.

“Studying at ISLI has been the most unique academic experience I’ve ever had. Through ISLI I had the opportunity to share and learn from students coming from a diverse range of international backgrounds. The MSc program is a very interesting course covering both hardware and software aspects of system on chip design.”

“The MSc program prepared me to advance my career within the international arena and to approach technical issues using a mix of practical as well as theoretical knowledge. This has enabled me to become a better electronics engineer in all fields and to take new challenges in the future. It has been definitely a great experience but now, as I have finished my Master’s degree, it has indeed changed my life. I have not only expanded my knowledge in my field but I have also learned about people, culture, and openness in society and mostly built up my own confidence for my future career,” said Nitin Aggarwal, a MSc student from India.

This uniquely structured and flexible course is born out of the exclusive partnership between the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde, in conjunction with the universities’ industrial partner, ISLI. Graduates of this course will receive a joint degree, with the certificate bearing the crests of all four universities.

With such an impressive collaboration, the four leading Scottish universities have created one exciting new degree. The partner universities and ISLI have delivered joint postgraduate programmes since 1999 and with this new MSc, they provide the opportunity for students to be taught at world class institutions, whilst benefiting from an exciting student experience outside academic life. The MSc course will consist of two semesters of lecture-based teaching, the first at Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities and the second at the University of Glasgow, both affordable, exciting and cosmopolitan, welcoming thousands of students from all over the world every year.

The Edinburgh-based Institute for System Level Integration, which works with Scottish and international businesses to create innovative new products for a variety of sectors including consumer electronics, energy and healthcare, unveiled the new sites ahead of the high-tech business and networking event, which took place in the Glasgow SECC on Tuesday, June 7. Designed to provide a refreshed and updated platform demonstrating the Institute’s capabilities and experience, the sites’ launch emphasises a range of recent activities that have seen the organisation develop and sharpen the range of services it offers.

“The Scottish Technology Showcase has become one of the high points of the business year, and as such provides the perfect platform to formally launch our new online presence. We believe that this country still has the capacity to be recognised as a global centre of innovation and technical excellence, and are looking forward to working alongside a new generation of exciting young companies with the ambition and drive to make their visions a reality,” said Institute Director Dr Mark Begbie.

Earlier this year ISLI launched the ‘DoRIES’ project to provide businesses across the Scottish lowlands and uplands with the technical support required to develop a raft of high value high-tech new products and services. Backed by a £666K investment from the Scottish Government SEEKIT programme and the European Regional Development Fund, together with financial and technical backing from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde universities, the Development of Research and Innovation in Electronic System project is designed to support Scottish SMEs seeking to develop marketable products, services or processes using electronics based enabling technologies.

With extensive experience developing integrated system technologies for sectors including energy, smart home, health, aerospace and electronics, ISLI is ideally positioned to provide client companies with the technology and supporting guidance required to generate engagement and impact across almost all business markets and sectors. Firms taking advantage of the project can receive assistance with both the technology review and technology feasibility study phases of product development.

The relaunched academic site, meanwhile, focuses on ISLI’s role in producing future generations of great engineering talent. Already renowned for its EngD programme, which offers a PhD-level qualification in advanced engineering, the Institute’s educational programme has recently been embellished by the addition of a new postgraduate MSc in in Sensor Networks has been designed to give students the key skills and knowledge required to develop industrial solutions at the cutting edge of this rapidly growing field. this rapidly growing field. A uniquely structured and flexible course, as with all ISLI qualifications the new degree will be awarded jointly with the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde.

ISLI will be there to provide advice and suggestions as to how your innovative idea can be taken to the next stage of development. Please come along to our stand on the day and we will be more than happy to discuss your idea further.

The event will see key note presentations from the likes of Dr Peter Donnelly, CEO Bio Business, Connecting Health with Technologies – does it provide solutions? Others will include:

Telehealth in Scotland - Eunice E Muir, Executive Nurse Director NHS 24 Developing World Class Facilities – Margaret Duffy, COO, NHS Forth Valley

Four breakout sessions will follow the keynote addresses, of which attendees will attend only 3 of the 4 breakout sessions:

Remote Management of Long Term Conditions – Ian Flynn, Independent Living Scotland and Elaine Gemmell, Scottish Health Innovations Ltd

Technology for Living at Home – Dr Thilo Kroll, Alliance for Self Care Research, Colin Black, Tunstall and Kevin Wilson, Innova Partnerships

Introducing New Technologies to the NHS – Dr Colin Morton, NHS, Scott Johnstone, Scottish Life Sciences Association and Allyson Bailey, NHS Forth Valley

Population Health – Preventative Medicine – Murdo Black, Axis-Sheild and Thea Ni Loinnain, Sporting Chance Initiative

Exhibitors fee is £100 + vat which includes two free delegate passes, an exhibition stand with one 6 foot trestle table and two chairs, an entry in the showcase exhibitors booklet and all refreshments. Whilst the delegate cost is £35 + vat per person. NHS delegates can attend free of charge but you must provide a valid NHS email address to enable a FOC place when registering online.

Due to limited exhibition space at the event, in the first instance all exhibitor enquiries should be made to Judy Rudd on 0141 330 5381 or email j.rudd@nexxusscotland.com.

For general enquiries regarding this event, please contact Jacqueline McCafferty on 01506 532460 or email jacqueline@edtc.org.uk.

Registration is being taken via the Edinburgh Napier University Online Store.  You must have a credit/debit card to make payment, if you do not have a credit card please contact Jacqueline McCafferty on 01506 532460 to discuss alternative payment options.  Please note only one registration can be made at any one time. You must create a login and password to register using the Online Store.

This event is brought to you by EDTC Technology Gateway, Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, Wellness & Health Innovation, NEXXUS, SUIPand Sporting Chance Initiative.

The Scottish Technology Showcase is the must-attend FREE event for everyone who produces or consumes technology in Scotland.

By attending this event you will be able to explore the ways in which you can make your business Faster, Leaner, & Greener with the latest cutting-edge enabling technology solutions that ISLI can provide.

DoRIES, a new service delivered by ISLI, supports Scottish pre-start-ups, from small to medium sized companies and works to develop or improve the products, services or processes using electronics-based enabling technologies.

Clients can obtain impartial FREE one to one advice on electronics and embedded software technologies and techniques from the DoRIES team. Conducted in the form of a technology review and typically as part of the client’s development plans for a new product or service or the redevelopment or improvement of an existing product.

Following a Technology Review, the need for a further investigation may be highlighted. To enable this, pre-start-ups and SMEs may apply for further support up to the value of £5000 or 50% of total project costs (lesser amount), in order to assess the technical feasibility of the project by further leveraging the expertise of the ISLI Technology Group staff and, where appropriate, the partner universities of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde and Glasgow.

Typical outcomes from feasibility studies include a feasibility report, proof of concept, technology demonstrator or a combination of the three. This will provide the client with reassurance of the underlying technology and place the client in a stronger position to self-fund or seek further funding from a 3rd party to complete the project.

DoRIES is funded by the Scottish Government’s SEEKIT programme, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and ISLI’s partner universities; Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde and Glasgow.

If you are interested in discussing your ideas further, or would like to utilise the DoRIES service, register for free at www.scottishtechnologyshowcase.com, and then come along to stand A14 to meet the ISLI team.

We look forward to seeing you there on the day!