We are the leading department of our kind in the country, with some of the best facilities in electronics, electrical engineering and computer science. We were one of the first universities to be named an Academic Centre of Excellence in both Cyber Security Education and Research.
Key facts
100%
of our research impact and environment is world-leading
About the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS)
As one of the world's largest electronics and computer science schools, we have a strong culture of research-led teaching. We're recognised for providing a first-rate education in an exceptional research environment. Our staff include researchers and educators covering all aspects of electronics, electrical engineering and computer science. We also host the prestigious Regius Professorship in Computer Science.
We transform our research into solutions for real-world challenges. These are grouped into 12 broad themes:
automation and robotics
computer engineering
biomedical engineering
digital health
human centred AI
human systems interaction
machine learning
quantum
semiconductors
sustainability
systems
theoretical computer science and software engineering
We also have a long-standing record of industrial collaboration with some of the world’s leading companies and agencies.
Teaching
We deliver over 40 programmes to nearly 2500 undergraduate and master’s students.
We commit to innovation and continuous growth in both learning practice and assessment. Our dedicated ECS Education Group brings together teaching staff from across the School and provides a focal point for education-related activities and research.
The reputation of our degree programmes and the quality of our students means our graduates are sought-after by employers. We support students to achieve their full potential through dedicated careers and employability initiatives.
Students and graduates are also well regarded for their awareness of the commercial environment. We are home to the startup incubator Future Worlds, which has a strong track record of funding student spin-out companies.
We embed sustainability in everything that we do. We give our students the tools to think about sustainability, responsible research and innovation.
Outreach
We run a comprehensive outreach programme from primary to A-Level. This includes lab visits, code-breaker workshops and lectures. We also provide support for teachers and a range of drop-in days. We run a popular Year 12 residential each summer where A-Level students can experience life as a university student.
Our history dates from 1947, when Professor Eric Zepler founded the Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering. Born in Germany in 1898, Zepler was a physicist by training but became a pioneering radio designer.
Together with Ernst Klotz he developed the T9W receiver at Telefunken in Germany. He later came to England where he worked at Marconi. The C100 receiver that he developed became standard on Royal Navy ships during World War 2.
He joined Southampton University College in 1941 in the Department of Physics and went on to become the UK's first Professor of Electronics. In 2009 we celebrated the first “Zepler Day” in recognition of his life’s work and our history.
Foundations of ECS
In 1947 and with only 5 students, Zepler and colleagues launched a new postgraduate diploma in Electronics, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering. The department was founded at the same time with only 2 academic members of staff.
In 1952 the University College in Southampton became an independent university and the department created its first 3-year BSc in Electrical Engineering. This was followed in 1959 by a BSc in Electronics, a pioneering course at the time.
Over the course of the 1960s and early 1970s the department grew from 9 to 33 members of staff.
Early research
Our early research work on microwaves would form the basis of the University’s excellence in optoelectronics and lasers. Its work on microcircuits helped the department become a national leader in silicon technology. This reputation was cemented in the late 1960s when we became the first university in the country to have a professional-standard cleanroom.
By 1974 we had groups working in areas ranging from optoelectronics to medical electronics and computer architecture. During the 1970s the University received a then new ICL 2970 computer, which significantly increased computational resource and supported development of software engineering as a discipline at Southampton.
Teaching excellence
From the outset, the department has emphasised high-quality and innovative teaching. In the early years the department published a number of papers in the area of project assessment, and we were also early adopters of continuous assessment. In our computer science courses we were among the first to introduce Pascal as a teaching language.
Industrial collaboration
We have always placed an emphasis on industrial collaboration, making our work relevant to the needs of industry. In 1968 we successfully competed for grants from the Wolfson Foundation, which allowed us to set up the Wolfson Unit. This offered commercial expertise in electronics to industrial partners. We also ran many short courses and played a significant role in national committees.
Computer science
The Computer Science research group became a department and took its first intake of Computer Science BSc students in the early 1980s.
Among its many notable achievements were the development of videodisc drivers for Apple Mac, multimedia and hypermedia information management systems.
Computer Science merged with Electronics in 1987, along with Electrical Engineering in 2000 to form ECS as it is known today.
In 2013 we were awarded the UK’s first Regius Professor of Computer Science in recognition of our pioneering work in this area. We continue to be at the forefront of developments in semiconductor technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Research and enterprise community
We bring together experts in electrical and electronic engineering and computer science, so interdisciplinary research is at our heart. We’ve created an environment that inspires achievement. With over 550 researchers from many different subject backgrounds, our research community is fast-changing and dynamic.
Research
Our exceptional research impact and environment is evidenced by our REF 2021 results:
100% of our computer science research impact is recognised as world-leading
100% of our environment for computer science research is recognised as world-leading
96% of our engineering research publications rated as world-leading or internationally excellent 95% for computer science
top 5% in the UK for quality and power in engineering research
Research takes place in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment and is organised across 11 core research groups. We also coordinate 4 centres. These centres combine expertise from across ECS, the University and industry in societally important areas of study. Crucially, we host Responsibe AI UK (RAi-UK). RAi-UK will become a global leader in best-practice for managing and operating AI in a way that benefits individuals and society.
Our activities are supported by excellent facilities. These include:
We have a record of strong industrial research collaborations and establishing spin outs.
We host the respected ECS Partners consultancy service. ECS Partners matches research facilities and academic expertise with the requirements of businesses, for both one-off and multi-year projects.
Among many stories of innovation and success, ECS staff founded and developed the EPrints service. EPrints is a world-leading open-source digital repository platform. It has been widely used across the academic sector and beyond for over 20 years.
Beyond spin-outs and consultancy, our enterprise activity includes:
• continuing professional development courses • policy and public engagement • outreach • media work
There is a strong sense of community in ECS. We have created an environment that has inspired an extraordinary level of achievement. Numerous events and initiatives bring the whole school together such as lunches, away days, lectures and talks.
Wellbeing
We promote work-life balance. In 2014, we introduced a core hours policy. This means we don’t hold meetings before 10am, after 4pm and during lunch hours from midday to 2pm.
Colleagues share their expertise. Some have chosen to help run Tai Chi sessions and wellbeing workshops for example. We also have a quiet room to support staff and PhD student welfare.
Mentoring
We run a confidential mentoring scheme, with more than 40 mentors available to support colleagues. The scheme is led by Senior Mentor Professor Neil White and is available to everyone. Staff can access advice and support in the following areas:
administrative processes
bullying, conflict, harassment, grievance
career progression
education
enterprise
fellowships
finance
life changes
outreach
research
Professional development
Since 2017, we’ve run annual promotion workshops. They offer guidelines for staff on how to plan their career and what to focus on when applying for promotion. In 2019 we added a special session exclusively for female staff.
We also offer a range of training courses for staff and students as well as induction training.
Help for families
The University provides support for families including an Early Years Centre and a Parents and Carers Network. This is in addition to maternity and parental leave. Learn more about employee benefits at the University.
Members of ECS take part in a Tai Chi session, run by a member of our community.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are at the heart of all we do. We provide a supportive environment in which we value difference and treat each other with respect.
Our EDI initiatives include:
code of conduct
email etiquette policy
policy for email communication between students and staff
The Campbell Group
This is a forum for women working in ECS. The group is available and relevant to every woman in the School, irrespective of their level of seniority and job family. The group holds monthly meetings and hosts sessions with distinguished women speakers, mentors and role models. It also helps inform the strategy of ECS, such as a monthly newsletter, development of an ECS induction programme and the appointment of wellbeing champions. Staff can contact Dorota Sikorska, the Operations Manager to find out more.
LGBTQIA+
ECS is a supportive community. Our calendar of events includes International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
Our staff and students are actively involved in Pulse LGBT+, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans staff network. The network works in partnership with the University of Southampton and other LGBTIQA+ networks to create a safe, inclusive and diverse working enviroment that encourages respect and equality for all.
Athena SWAN
We hold a bronze Athena SWAN Award and will be applying for a silver award. We have an action plan to further improve gender equality. Our ECS Athena Swan self-assessment team is led by Dr Reena Pau. The ECS EDI Committee is chaired by Professor Christopher Freeman.
Our Athena SWAN Award recognises our commitment to gender equality.
ECS is a truly inspiring place to work. The environment we have created fosters a level of creative thinking and commitment that enables real-world impact – through our graduates as they go out into the world, the varied applications of our research and wide-ranging enterprise activities
