Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Limited (Fujitsu), the leading supplier of high performance telecommunications solutions, has achieved accreditation by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) for its graduate-training Professional Development Scheme. This accreditation is one of the first to be awarded since the implementation of the Engineering Council's Standards and Routes to Registration (SARTOR 97) document, and follows a recent audit of Fujitsu's training scheme by a panel of IEE fellowship-level engineers.

The SARTOR 97 benchmark covers training standards as well as depth of relevant experience, and is a key factor in enabling graduates to attain the status of chartered engineer. In awarding the accreditation - which is valid for two years - the IEE audit panel recognised that Fujitsu's training scheme meets these stringent standards and provides the appropriate training route for graduates. James Sweetman, a Fellow of the IEE, presented the organisation's Accreditation Certificate to Shigeyuki Unagami, Managing Director of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe, and commented: "Achieving this accreditation is a notable success and a clear demonstration of Fujitsu's commitment to training young engineers, and of its high technical and professional standards."

Responding on behalf of Fujitsu, Mr Unagami said: "It is vital that our engineers meet world class standards of design and development, in order to meet the demanding needs of our customers. We are therefore very pleased to accept this Accreditation from the IEE, as recognition of our commitment to training. It underpins our whole training programme for graduate engineers from an electronic or telecommunications background, with our Professional Development Scheme providing a distinct career path from leaving university to achieving chartered status. Graduates have the reassurance of working under an approved training scheme, which encompasses such aspects as quality assurance procedures and assessable standards of competence."

The IEE represents a membership of some 140,000 engineers, and its mission is to raise the standing and visibility of the profession, and to maintain a high standard of professional conduct. It fulfils this role by approving and accrediting engineering degree courses, and industrial development schemes, to improve the capability of engineers.

Currently employing 1,230 staff around Europe, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe is a strategic division of the Telecommunications Group, Fujitsu Limited, Japan - one of the world's largest communications equipment suppliers. Fujitsu's customer base includes wide-ranging contracts across the breadth of modern telecommunications networks. Focused on providing strategic end to end solutions, Fujitsu offers a complete turnkey service - from project planning, community liaison, cable laying and civil engineering, to the complete installation, implementation and ongoing maintenance.

Headquartered in Birmingham, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe has extensive research and development facilities and also operates as part of Fujitsu's global manufacturing resource. The company has a long-established track record for product and service innovation, with extensive expertise in the field of leading edge optical transmission and telecommunications switching technology. This ranges from the development of the most advanced Photonic Network Solutions; to Passive Optical Networks; Fibre Access Systems; Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) networks; Advanced Switching Systems; Radio Access Systems and IP Applications; in addition to its TMN-compliant Network Management Systems.

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