Fall 2023 Updates from the Director
As we approach the middle of the semester, I would like to summarize an event I attended in October. Titled “IROS Forum on Robotics Education: Oct. 5, Master’s Panel,” it was organized by Profs. Dawn Tilbury and Jing Xiao. Dawn is the Chair of the Robotics Department at the University of Michigan, and Jing Xiao is the Robotics Engineering Department Head at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Speakers described programs in Robotics that ranged from a Bachelor of Science to Ph.D. programs and represented schools in both the US and Europe. Here are some key findings:
These programs are growing at amazing rates, not only in popularity but in the range of topics they cover.
Robotics represents a variety of topics, from cognition and deep learning to autonomous cars.
There is such a push to increase enrollment that some programs are larger than traditional engineering departments like mechanical and electrical engineering.
There is a strong emphasis on hiring adjunct faculty to teach students.
Programs like the Johns Hopkins MS in Robotics are going to be primarily online, with students numbering more than 100 per year.
Students are generally not funded unless they are in a Ph.D. program, and the participation of BS and MS students in research is minimal.
We presented our model, which may differ from those used at other institutions but works well for our students and the entire university community. Listeners asked many questions, primarily about attracting such high-quality students. We received great praise for our interview discussions with all potential students, which enabled us to identify those best fit for the program. Still, it comes at the cost of conducting almost 100 interviews per year—similar to the admissions process of medical and business schools.
We also received some ideas on how to evolve. One of the main ideas we will explore is creating a Ph.D. program in Robotics at the University of Minnesota. The need exists, and students ask when we will offer such a program. It will take a significant effort to organize the program’s different stages, create a sound financial model that will guarantee all students' support, and secure the program’s financial health. We also decided to keep our cohort to 50 students per year, for a total student population of 100—a size that our faculty and staff can effectively manage, and one that allows more personal interaction with each student. For example, Nicole, our graduate student advisor, will meet with each student in the program in the next four weeks to identify challenges they may face, something not possible with a larger student population. The third component of our vision is to keep emphasizing student participation in research. Students have the opportunity to be part of work with challenging problems and real robotic systems, to go beyond theory, and to build practical skills. This experience is a good introduction to a Ph.D. path, and allows them to develop problem-solving abilities, creativity, critical thinking, and the ability and willingness to learn from failure.
Stay well,
Nikos Papanikolopoulos
Minnesota Robotics Institute Director