New degree motor sports
AS technology makes inroads into motor sports, students are racing to sign up for a Bachelor of Technology (Motorsports) course at Perth's Edith Cowan University.
Motorsports course co-ordinator Daryoush Habibi said the inaugural student intake was about three times larger than anticipated, and he was still getting inquiries.
"The number of students we are expecting for the intake next year will be in the order of 40 to 50, but for this year, because we've launched the course very late, we were thinking we might have 10 to 15, and the numbers are much larger than that,'' he said.
Dr Habibi said 30 students had been admitted to the course, run by the school of engineering and mathematics.
WA Sporting Car Club president John Hurney said motor sports were increasingly technology based.
"High-level motor sport is very technological,'' he said.
"All the cars have very sophisticated computerised engine management systems.
"They also have a huge emphasis on what is referred to as data acquisition.''
Dr Habibi said the course was unique at university level in Australia.
"Besides the motor sport industry, the graduates will also have great employment opportunities in the broader field of mechanical and automotive engineering and manufacturing engineering,'' he said.
By Diana Thorp, The Australian, February 7 2006.
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