"MECHA WHAT?" you might well ask. A recently coined word, mechatronics is defined as the combination of precision engineering, electronic control and information systems to make intelligent machine systems.

Or, to the man in the street, it integrates electronic and mechanical engineering disciplines with computer-aided design systems to produce TVs, robots, manufacturing processes and a host of consumer durables.

The first batch - one woman and 40 men - of Ireland's B.Eng in mechatronic engineering students started their studies in DCU this term. Professor Saleem Hashmi, who heads this unique degree course, believes the programme will produce the engineers of the present and, more importantly, the engineers of the future.

"There is very little manufactured today that does not have mechanical and electronic aspects," Hashmi says. "The mechanical functions of a video recorder, for example, include putting a video cassette into position inside the machine and dragging its tape out on to the audio and video heads - while an electronic function would be translating the information on the cassette tape into sound and vision.

"The car is increasingly changing from a passive mechanical item to a more complex intelligent system that is able to respond to changing conditions. Photographic and photocopying equipment also now incorporate intelligent electronics that fully automate the processing function."

Hashmi believes, he says, that these developments call for close integration of a wide range of engineering disciplines. "However," he says, "relevant traditional engineering programmes usually divide along conventional lines to produce either mechanical or electronic engineers. For new technology, it is at the interface - where electronics and mechanics meet - that most of the problems arise and where there will be a growing demand for mechatronic engineers."

The mechatronic degree programme at DCU is taken over four years and includes a six-month stint of work experience in third year. In first year, the programme provides basic coverage of the fundamentals of maths, science, engineering and computing. Second and third years are designed to cover mechanical, manufacturing and electronic engineering subjects, as well as addressing engineering software that is pertinent to mechatronics.

In fourth year, students undertake many mechatronic projects, such as designing and building their own robots, which Hashmi says is "great fun".

A SPECIAL FEATURE of the course is its integrative-studies workshops. These introduce students to the interdisciplinary nature of mechatronic products, their functions and design.

"There is a strong emphasis throughout the course on the most modern computer-based engineering CAD/CAM equipment," he says. "This area is becoming absolutely essential in the day-to-day life of the modern engineer."

Sean Finnegan, director of operations at Richmond Recruitment in Dublin, is enthusiastic about the idea of the DCU mechatronic programme: "This sounds like an extremely interesting and worthwhile degree."

Finnegan explains: "At this stage it's safe to say that 1996 has probably been the best ever in recruitment terms for electronic and mechanical engineers. But we are finding it very difficult to find people to fill the many vacancies that arise in areas between these two engineering disciplines. There are ample opportunities out there for people with a mechatronic background.

"More and more companies are coming to us looking for personnel with a mixture of electronic disciplines. If you had a mechatronic qualification at the moment, it would be a major plus in the search for work. Looking into the future, I fully expect that this will continue to be so."

Padraig Gallagher, co-operative education manager at UL, believes the demand for engineering graduates has never been better. "In fact," he says, "there are so many engineering jobs out there at the moment that we're having difficulty filling places on postgraduate engineering programmes. Electronic engineers in particular are what the market is after."

Frank Bourke, director of the Institute of Engineers in Ireland, believes the demand for electronic and mechanical engineers is very "healthy" in Ireland and Europe at the moment. "It is my belief that this situation will continue for the foreseeable future. In fact, some studies are even predicting a shortage in the EU of mechanical and electronic engineers in the long run.