Mechatronics Education in Austria

• History of Mechatronics in Austria
• The Austrian edcuation system
• Mechatronics at the Johannes Kepler University Linz
• Education of apprentices in Mechatronics
• Courses in Mechatronics at polytechnic universtities in Austria
• Bachelor and master in mechatronics;
  ECTS credit system

History of Mechatronics in Austria

• Johannes Kepler University Linz
• Founded 1965 as a college Social an Economical Sciences
• The faculty for Technical and Natural Sciences was added 1969 with departments for
  • Technical Mathematics
  • Technical Physics
  • Technical Chemistry
  • Informatics
• Planned but not realised departments for
  • Mechancial Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering

The birth of Mechatronics in Austria

• 1987 we started a new attempt
• An investigation by the Austrian research centre for economical affairs
  • More than 1000 academically trained technicans are missing
  • Too little co-operation between universities and industries
  • University-research is not requested by industries
• The solution of the problem
  • To develop a new-fashioned interdisciplinary technical curriculum with concentration on the most improtant fields of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Informatics
  • To get money for 10 new chairs (each including positions for 3 assistants, one secretary and one technician) and the necessary equipment and labs
  • To find qualified persons for these chairs
• Helpful information
  • Observations mady by Mr. Burr in Japan
  • Knowledge gathered by a great Mechatronics-project sponsored by the wood-manufacturing industry in Finnland
  • Experiences obtained at the ETH-Zürich with their "NAchdiplomstudium Mechatronik"
  • Hints of the Mechatronics-group around Prof. Hewitt from the Technical University in Loughborough

Mechatronics at the Johannes Kepler University Linz

• Teaching
  • In 1990 we started with our education in Mechatronics
  • Aim of our curriculum in Mechatronics
    • To offer our students a scientific well founded knowledge
    • Long-lasting valued knowledge is more important than short-dated fashion-trends
    • To relate our students with those capabilities, which enables them to break into a new branch of knowledge in short time and with little effort
    • To bring our students up to the limit of research
    • To face our students with the concrete practical problems
  • Till 1995 this course in Mechatronics was handled as a trial, since 1995 Mechatronics is a regular academic course
  • Our Curriculum

• Facts
  • At the moment 700 students are studying Mechatronics
  • Up to now 200 students are graduated in Mechatronics
  • Moreover 10 students got a PhD-degree in Mechatronics
  • All graduates in Mechatronics got an interesting, well-paid and adequate job in the industry
  • Every year we have 100 newcomers in Mechatronics
  • 50% drop out rate
  • 70% of our students come from a ploytechni school
  • 1% woman
  • 20% of our students finish their education in MEchatronics in the shortest possible time of 5 years
  • The mean time is 6.5 years
  • We have a students exchange program with the Universtity of Loughborough. We are very interested to set up exchange programs with other universities especially in English- or France-speaking countries
  • We co-operate with numerous universities all over the world to give our students the chance to collaborate with applied research-projects during the summertime. We are very interested to set up these programs.
  
  
• Applied research projects
  • Christian Doppler Labs
  • Centre of Competence in MEchatronics
  • Mechatronics Ges.m.b.H. of the VOEST-Alpine
  • Mechatronics as a power to improve our local companies

Education of apprentices in Mechatronics

• More than 300 different kinds of skilled workers
• Education of skilled workers in Mechatronics
• The guild for Mechatronics changed its name into guild for Mechatronics

Courses in Mechatronics at polytechnic universities in Austria

• The Austrian polytechnic universities
  • Austria started 1993 with the system of polytechnic universities. This system is not exactly comparable with the German one.
  • Open for students from polytechnic schools, high schools and students with an apprentice-education and a additional examination
  • The education lasts 4 years ending with a graduation as a certified engineer (FH)
  • The polytechnic universities consist of a collection of several courses widespread over the whole region
  
  
• Difficulties and mistakes
  • Since 6 years permanent reorganisation of Austrian universities
  • No general concept for polytechnic universities
  • No seperation on duty between technical universities and polytechnical universities
  • The Austrian polytechnic universities are favourites of our politicians. They make publicity with wrong arguments
  • Several cities are in competiotion to get the chance to establish a course of one of our polytechnical universities
  • Conflict-potential between technical universities and polytechnical universities. Double tracking is common (Bachelor)
  • Little staff
  • Fixed given drop out rate below 5%
  
  
• The Upper-Austrian polytechnoc university
  • Between the Johannes Kepler University Linz and the Upper-Austrian Polytechnic University exists something like a seperation on duty
  • Very different qualifications. Thus no competition by engaging students. Our graduates have not to struggle for a job.
  • The Upper-Austrian Polytechnic University is running two courses related to Mechatronics:
    • Automated Plant- and Process-Technology,
    • Mechatronics / Economics
  
  
• Automated Plant- and Process-Technology
  • Developing, designing, enigeering and manufacturing of automated plants and processes
  • Assemblage, set to work and manage automated machines and processes
  • Management and administration of large projects
  • Personal guidance
  • Solving complex problems considering social and economical aspects
  • Recognition of new trends and movements of new methods
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Mechatronics / Economics
  • Evening and weekend course established for engineers graduated by a polytechnic school with more than 5 years experience in industries.
  • Technical competence in the sense of a qualified survey-knowledge
  • Knowledge in management, business, law and social competence to be able to manage a company
  • Familiar with modern cummunication- and presentattion-techniques
  • Training in foreign languages
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Bachelor and Master Degree, ECTS-system

• We will not quit the historically diploma degree
• Provided periods of studies

  Bachelor	6 (8) semesters
  Master	4 (2) semesters
  Diploma	10 semesters

  The master degree and the diploma degree as a certified engineer should be equivalent.