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Scotland's collaborative Institute for System Level Integration is launching a new postgraduate programme for test engineers, crucial for developing tests on the new generation of system-on-chip products.

The ISLI brings together research and teaching strengths in electrical and electronic engineering, computing science and informatics from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde universities.

It is a key component of the Alba Centre, through which higher education, industry and government are working together to drive the future of electronic design.

George Bell, ISLI test education programme director, said there was an acute shortage of test engineers but that new developments, particularly in mobile telecommunications, were leading to revolutionary product concepts and market opportunities. He said this meant companies were expanding their design and testing work.

ISLI is launching modular courses that build into a postgraduate qualification in November.

Steve Beaumont, the ISLI's director, said: "We need to be able to provide good training for experienced test engineers and also for graduate trainees."