Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (Electromechanical Engineering Technology)
This Engineering Technology programme is organized by the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. It focuses on mechanical engineering the broadest sense of the word and covers all the aspects that are relevant to the machine-building or design process.
What
The impact of science and technology on today’s society is greater than ever before. Sophisticated machines take over difficult or dangerous tasks, medicine evolves at high speed, new techniques reduce our mountain of waste, ... In all of the above, engineers have a crucial role to play. They come up with solutions to existing problems and develop new products and technologies. In short, engineers contribute to a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
The Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Engineering Technology (in Dutch: industrieel ingenieur) offer an application-oriented knowledge by means of basic course units. You then use that knowledge to improve existing designs and systems, and to apply new concepts in the professional field. Characteristic of the programme are the many exercises and practicals in labs and the regular contacts with the professional field during project work and work placements.
The two cornerstones of the Bachelor’s curriculum in Electromechanical Engineering Technology are electricity (including electronics) and mechanics. In the Master’s programme, this allows for a choice of Electromechanical Engineering Technology or Electrical Engineering Technology (main subject Electrical Engineering or main subject Automation). The Master of Science in Electromechanical Engineering Technology focuses on mechanical engineering in the broadest sense of the word. The curriculum covers various aspects that are important when designing and building modern machines systematically. Specific disciplines such as mechanical design, production, construction, electrical engineering, power transmission and automation techniques are treated from a theoretical as well as a practical angle.
Far from being satisfied with using and/or applying known technologies, we focus on innovative, problem-solving and practice-oriented ways of thinking and working. In so doing, we take into account our economic and ecological reality. The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology has two main subjects: Electrical Engineering and Automation.
The main subject on Electrical Engineering studies mastering electrical energy and renewable energy sources, as well as energy production and energy transmission. The curriculum also focuses on the electrical engines, generators and power electronics that are being used in industrial electric motors, wind turbines and electric vehicles.
The main subject on Automation studies the correlation between well-built technology and the software behind that technology. It focuses mostly on production automation and process management.
For whom
Needless to say, an outspoken interest in mathematics, sciences and technology is indispensable for all those wishing to start any engineering programme. Other important assets are motivation, perseverance and creativity. Prospective students with a secondary school education in engineering technology (in Dutch: industriële wetenschappen), mathematics or science come to the programme well-prepared. Our prospective students can test their prior knowledge by means of a self-assessment and the benchmark test. During the first three terms of the curriculum we cover the mathematical topics from the secondary school curriculum in a more in-depth manner, as well as introduce new topics. A solid basic knowledge of mathematics is a prerequisite for most of the other course units, too. Prior knowledge of course units such as mechanics, electricity and chemistry is good to have but not a prerequisite.
Structure
The Engineering Technology programme is staggered across four academic years: three Bachelor’s and one Master’s year. Programme content (of the Bachelor’s as well as the Master’s programme) is built on five learning pathways: Mathematics and Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Project and Research, Communication, and Business Management. Mathematics and the sciences are covered in the first two years. They are the bedrock of what follows in later years. The other learning pathways are integrated into each year’s curriculum, with progressive depth and complexity. Our choice of electives allows you to tailor the curriculum to your interests.
The first year offers a common curriculum for all study programmes (Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology). We introduce you to the different engineering disciplines. Later on in your career, this will allow you to communicate with colleagues across disciplines. This is what distinguishes an engineer from a professional Bachelor or a ‘pure’ (theoretical) scientist. The second-year curriculum offers a choice of Civil Engineering, Electromechanics, Electronics-ICT or Informatics. Your choice of discipline becomes your field of specialization. We illustrate theory by means of exercises and in labs, which allows you to put the acquired knowledge into practice. After all, Engineering Technology graduates (in Dutch: industrieel ingenieurs) do not stop at theories and concepts. They are satisfied only when their application actually works. In addition, the curriculum also contains projects and/or work placements (either at home or abroad). This is a way for you to familiarize yourself with the profession during your studies.
Labour Market
Electromechanical Engineering
Electromechanical Engineering Technology graduates find their way into a wide variety of sectors and companies. You can take up management positions in production, design, management, maintenance or commercial services. Careers that are open to you are, for instance, design engineer, project planning engineer, production engineer, maintenance engineer, quality engineer, technical-commercial manager, organizer of education and training services... .
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
The main subject on Electrical Engineering focuses on all things energy-related. Job opportunities can be found in the electrical and electronic industry, in lighting, heating, cooling, and in energy production and distribution. Other possibilities include aviation and aerospace, or railway companies.
Automation
The main subject on Automation mostly focuses on production automation and process management. You have access to a wide range of sectors: the electrical and electronic industry, computer and information processing companies, the metalworking and mechanical industry, chemical industry, energy production and distribution, the aviation, space or shipping industry, railway companies, inspection bodies, public agencies, education, semi-public organizations, and banks.
Be sure to check out these interesting testimonials at ikbenindustrieelingenieur.be (in Dutch).
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
-
Multiperspectivism: We train our students into becoming engineers with both technical and academic-scientific knowledge, theoretical as well as practical skills and attitudes, a broad polyvalent base (first and second year) and a clear specialization (third and fourth year).
- Profile: In the third-year and fourth-year curriculum, we focus on specific key aspects based on our own on-campus research and long-standing collaboration with the industry.
- Talent Development: We aim to strengthen our students’ knowledge of specific technical-scientific matters, while also focusing on those generic skills that are indispensable for future engineers, like communication and project management. In addition, we also cover aspects of economics, sustainability and safety during projects.
- Integration of theory and practice: Our curriculum contains many hours of tutorials and practicals, during which we apply the theoretical knowledge covered in the lectures.
Strengths
- Curriculum: We have recently implemented a thorough curricular review, including clearly defined learning pathways of increasing complexity.
- Dedicated team of lecturers: Our programme boasts a team of highly motivated and approachable lecturers.
- Interdependence of education, research and the industry. At Ardoyen Campus we have at our disposal a number of state-of-the-art laboratories in which our students, lecturers and industrial partners can collaborate closely for the purpose of optimal knowledge and expertise sharing.
- Electives:We offer a wide range of electives, allowing students to specialize according to their own interests.
- Stakeholder Involvement: We involve the professional field through an industrial advisory board. Our lecturers each have personal contacts with the industry. The Programme Committee ensures an open dialogue with its lecturers and student representatives. Our student representatives are our first point of contact to keep abreast of what is going on in the larger student group, and to make adjustments if necessary.
Weaknesses
- Quality Culture:Quality monitoring and promotion is the responsibility of the entire study programme and is integrated into the Programme Committee’s day-to-day business. Ghent University’s quality cycle, including the Study Programme Feedback by Students as yardstick, are our guiding principles in this matter. In so doing, we determine specific acts in our annual quality improvement plan.
- Internationalization:There is room for improvement when it comes to student and staff mobility. The opportunities to spend a term abroad are currently rather limited. We work towards an integration of various I@H opportunities in the curriculum.
- Student Involvement: We offer our students ample opportunities to express their concerns and to help optimize our programme on a continuous basis. In addition, it is important for the study programme to work together with the student representatives to inform the broader student group of important decisions related to the programme and its quality assurance.ng;
- International Programme Review: We want to broaden the external perspective on our programme by consulting with comparable (international) study programmes. The involvement of a broad range of external perspectives at home and abroad in shaping and organizing our curriculum is an undeniable asset. We can count on the various international contacts of our lecturers.
- Assessment: Clear information on the form and contents of assessments is highly important. While studying for the exams, students must know clearly what we expect of them. In addition, we need to provide sufficient feedback in the context of continuous as well as end-of-term assessment.
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here and here.
This information was last updated on 14/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.