Modern university education is very strongly based on computer techniques, which provide necessary computational power to develop specialized software. Very intuitive graphical programs became indispensable tools for word and graphics processing, data storage, and advanced computational tasks. An increasing role of information availability from the data stored on web pages and network accessible data bases can be observed. This immense potential source of information requires appropriate searching tools and algorithms. In this situation a well-scheduled track through computer science courses, for students of various specializations, is an essential issue. This problem is especially acute in education in Biomedical Engineering since application of computer methods to medicine, computational biology, and bioinformatics requires an approach that differs from classical methods. We discuss concepts and techniques in teaching computer science courses, comparing three specializations from the Faculty of Basic Problems of Technology in Wroclaw University of Technology: Biomedical Engineering, Computational Physics in Science and Technology, and Mathematical Aspects of Computer Science.

The paper presents an illustration of the use of photonics and optical measurements in today’s engineering world and emphasizes the need for and value of the field which is seen as a key subject for current engineering education. The paper emphasizes the place of photonics when viewed within a systems approach to measurement and instrumentation, but also stresses the value of the appreciation of the fundamentals of physical science to achieve a full understanding of modern devices of this type. The relationship of photonic measurement systems to optical communications systems is stressed, as is the commonality of the approach to the two. The role of modelling as a key tool in the system design is emphasized, and an illustration given of a modern fibre optical measurement system to exemplify the points raised.

The article gives a review of reasons for developing and adopting a new web-based model of studies by Warsaw University of Technology. That is followed by a description of the Internet and multimedia - based educational model, known as SPrINT. The article presents also a structure of the four-year engineering studies offered by Electrical Engineering Faculty, Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology and Faculty of Mechatronics for given specialization. Then follows a description of the structure and tools of the electronic books. One of the subjects common for all students of the three Faculties is Virtual Laboratory. Virtual Instruments, as well as networked and distributed measurement systems, are the natural tools, which can be used in a modern didactic process for creating virtual laboratories.

After couple years of discussions, on different levels, at different academic centres and academic institutions, the very important decision was undertaken concerning the Teaching Quality Assessment. As a result of the act of July 20th 2001, regarding changes to the act of higher education and the act of polytechnic school, the National Accreditation Commission was created – the statutory organ of higher education working for the quality of education. According to the expectations and demands of the academic community the whole higher educational system is evaluated by equal set of standards.
The National Accreditation Commission completely takes over the duties regarding the evaluation of applications for opening new schools, studies and giving rights to train for a masters degree. The Commission has the rights to estimate the quality of training and the conditions of higher studies in all polish universities: public, not public, academic and vocational. The last task will lead to many inspections and controls.
According to “The Status of the National Commission of Accreditation”: "The Commission cooperates with national and international organisations that assess the quality of education and accreditation". In the field of cooperation the following questions have to be discussed:
How to compare accreditation results of the National Accreditation Commission in Poland with the rules concerning:
1) Accreditation of Colleges and Universities in the Middle States Region of the United States of America
* Silesian University of Technology, Institute of Automatic Control, Akademicka 16 str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 2) The Teaching Quality Assessment conducted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England
3) FEANI Register of European Engineers

A completely new engineering curriculum has been introduced in 2000-2001 at our University with a modern pedagogical approach, the keywords of which are problem-based learning, project-based learning, active learning. The lecture will, as an introductory part, present the why’s, what’s and how’s of this revolution.
This new context of teaching, which privileges the knowledge acquisition through practice better than theory, certainly favours creativity and especially motivation. But consequently, the place for formal, traditional courses is reduced to a small portion of the curriculum.
It is in particular the case for the courses in electrical measurements and instrumentation, of concern in this lecture, in the new curriculum of students in electrical engineering. Furthermore, the necessary rigour inherent to any training programme in this discipline becomes difficult to achieve in a pedagogical method enhancing the selftraining.
It is in this context of limited time budget that a recentering is needed on what is essential to keep in a basic training in electrical measurements and instrumentation for every student in electrical engineering. A rapprochement with the course of electrical circuits is also a new accent to be emphasised.
The lecture will draw up a list of uncircumventing topics which will be commented often through very simple examples. Only low frequency measurements (below 1 MHz) are here considered.