Mechatronics Education in Austria
Peter Weiss
Senatsbeauftragter für Mechatronik
Universität Linz
Austria
1. international workshop on education in mechatronics
- 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.
ECTS-system