The College of Engineering supports numerous programs to help engineers update and improve their skills. These programs, usually one to five days in length, fall into the categories of short courses, conferences, and workshops. They can be distinguished as follows.
Conferences tend to be larger gatherings, possibly several hundred people, with a common interest.
Conferences last for several days and have a program that includes lectures and the presentation of technical papers. Short courses are typically smaller groups, perhaps 15-40 persons. Short courses focus on a specific area of technology taught by one or more instructors, and last for several days to a week. Workshops are similar to short courses, but tend to involve less lecture and more hands-on exercises. Each format provides an excellent mechanism for the transfer of information and for networking between participants.