New Master's program merges digitization and engineering
Smartphones, smartwatches, smart TVs: Welcome to an era of digitization and networking. The business world strives to integrate new, smart product categories. This leads to a wide range of new opportunities in the development, manufacturing, operation and maintenance of products. Data generated by these products is one key aspect. They could serve as a starting point for new solutions. For example, maintenance intervals could be set individually, or components could be replaced before damage occurs. New business models like operator models could emerge. This would mean that forklift manufacturers would not sell forklifts as they traditionally do, but they would sell transport as a service based on the amount of the weight to be transported.
Bridging a skill gap
The CEO Managing Director of the FH Kufstein Tirol, Prof. (FH) Dr. Thomas Madritsch, regards the new Smart Products & Solutions program as a bespoke solution that meets the requirements of the business world. “The physical and the digital world have become more and more interconnected. It is our task as an innovative university of applied sciences to provide our graduates with the skills needed in businesses today and tomorrow.” The target group of the program is professionals with a background in traditional engineering disciplines and IT. In particular, generalists can play an important role in this field and close the existing gap. The FH Kufstein Tirol equips them with the necessary methods and tools.
There is certainly no lack of ideas for smart products and solutions. However, there is a lack of skilled employees who are capable of implementing these ideas from a technical and economic perspective. This is where the new Master's program comes into play. Combining engineering and economics, the Smart Products & Solutions* program focuses on the development of new smart products and solutions, the generation of added value from data and the digital transformation of companies.
Prepared for the world of work and an international environment
These attributes make the Smart Products & Solutions* study program stand out among other programs in the fields of smart applications, the Internet of Things, and industry 4.0. Another unique focus is the practical approach. In addition to a practical project and a Master thesis, students will have to work on a number of practical tasks. The lecturers will give additional valuable insights into their professional worlds. Asc. Prof. (FH) Dr. Peter Affenzeller, the Director of Studies and an industrial engineer, draws on many years of experience in product development. "Smart products and solutions based on these products offer great opportunities, but they also require new approaches and skills to be adopted in businesses."
Students will also gain international experience. About 28 percent of all classes will be held in English. They will gain further insights during a compulsory study trip to one of the partner universities abroad and visits to international companies.
Registration for the Master’s degree program is open until April 23rd, 2017. Online application and further information is available at www.fh-kufstein.ac.at.
*subject to AQ Austria accreditation
