INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Specific learning objectives of the Programme and description of the Programme structure
The main objective of the Programme is to train engineers with a solid academic foundation and broad-based technical preparation. This will enable them not only to work professionally in support of the diverse field of industrial design and production but also to participate in the developmental processes of new manufactured products and technologies. More specifically, with regard to the Programme structure, the first year provides foundational modules in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. These are complemented by the study of a foreign language, computer science, economics applied to engineering, and mechanical drawing, which serves as a universal language of communication among engineers. From the second year onwards, students engage in core and cognate disciplines of industrial engineering, alongside several interdisciplinary modules detailed below. In the third year, students undertake modules more closely related to professional practice, in addition to optional modules chosen by the students. In the final year, the engineering student is also required to complete a compulsory internship and carry out the final thesis work. The Bachelor’s Degree Programme thus offers students the opportunity both to enter the labour market directly and to pursue further education through Master’s degree programmes or first-level Master’s programmes. Indeed, students acquire knowledge and understanding in mathematics, physics, 10/04/2018 13/06/2025 10/04/2018 SECTION A4.b.1 Knowledge and understanding, and Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Summary Students acquire knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science, as well as of the basic disciplines of industrial engineering, enabling them to make the most appropriate choice. With regard to the basic subject areas, the specific learning objectives are essential for undertaking subsequent courses and providing a foundation for further education after graduation. They include knowledge of the fundamentals of mathematical analysis and the ability to utilise the relevant mathematical tools; knowledge of the fundamentals of physics and the ability to analyse the primary phenomena; knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry and the ability to analyse the main phenomena; and knowledge of the principles of basic computer science, enabling students to manage the applied areas of the discipline in industrial contexts. The basic subject areas are complemented by cross-disciplinary disciplines. Their specific learning objectives pertain to the acquisition of basic knowledge of the English language to comprehend scientific texts and communicate in international engineering contexts, as well as knowledge of the key principles of economics applied to engineering and the economic, managerial, and organisational aspects connected with industrial processes. The specific learning objectives of the core and cognate disciplines centre on a common programme framework, which is substantially focused on the profile of an Industrial Engineer working in the significant sector of energy and/or chemical plant engineering. The programme is therefore characterised by, and achieves coherence through, the skills required to understand and operate across the entire life cycle of systems. This life cycle encompasses the phases of design, construction, operation, and maintenance. From this perspective, the programme includes modules in the area of energy engineering aimed at providing knowledge of the principles of engineering thermodynamics and heat transfer, fluid dynamics, the operation of fluid machinery, and energy systems. These modules are designed to support understanding of energy transfers and the balances established within plants and their components. Given the frequent, though not exclusive, application of these areas to the chemical plant engineering sector, this knowledge is integrated with chemical-area concepts relating to transport phenomena, chemical plant engineering techniques, and a more detailed study of the selection and use of the required materials. The tools necessary for plant specification and design are addressed through a solid foundation of modules in the mechanical area. These include mechanical drawing, a universal language of communication among engineers, applied mechanics, mechanical design, mechanical and thermal measurements, and tools and methods for the design of functional and control systems and subsystems. Elements of plant and systems management complete the programme structure. This area incorporates concepts of logistics and automation, as well as components for economic evaluation and for selecting the most suitable production technologies. These modules constitute the defining core foundation of the programme. Cognate subjects complement aspects relating to operational research, optimisation, modelling, electrical engineering, and fluid dynamics. In order to explore specific topics within the disciplines of industrial engineering in greater depth and to enrich the knowledge of future graduates, the Bachelor’s Degree Programme offers students the opportunity to select from different curricula. Within the framework outlined above, these provide varying levels of further study in the disciplinary areas introduced. The breadth of the educational offer shares common foundations relating to the training of the industrial engineer while also providing different pathways designed to meet individual learning needs. Students are positioned to apply the concepts acquired in various disciplinary sectors, thereby addressing the demands of the industrial and/or plant-engineering context to which they aspire or in which, as is often the case, they are already working. The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Industrial Engineering is the only programme in degree class L-9 within the Faculty of Engineering.