Study Guide

Descriptions

Description of the degree programme

The Master of Engineering – Interactive Technologies is centred on full-stack development for anybody with a proven area of expertise within full-stack development. The program is designed to equip students with the comprehensive skills and in-depth knowledge required to excel in the dynamic field of full-stack interactive technology development. This intensive program offers a rigorous curriculum that blends theory and hands-on experience, preparing graduates to tackle the challenges of modern software development. The program highlights include:

Holistic Skillset: This program covers the complete spectrum of development, from front-end interactive interfaces to back-end, enabling students to become proficient in both client-side and server-side technologies. Graduates will be well-equipped to work in teams that create end-to-end solutions.

Cutting-Edge Technologies: The curriculum is continuously updated to reflect the latest industry trends and technologies. Students will gain expertise in popular programming languages, frameworks, and tools relevant to full-stack development and the latest applicable interactive technologies, ensuring they stay current in this rapidly evolving field.

Project-Centric Learning: Learning by doing is emphasized through practical projects that simulate real-world scenarios. Students will develop a robust portfolio that showcases their expert contribution to responsive, interactive, and scalable applications.

Industry Collaborative development: Close ties with industry leaders, guest lectures, workshops, and possible internship opportunities provide students with valuable exposure to the professional world. This collaboration ensures that the curriculum remains aligned with industry needs. Through such team projects, students will learn to collaborate effectively in a development team, simulating the collaborative nature of real-world full-stack projects. Communication, version control, and project management skills are emphasized.

User-Centred Design: User experience (UX) and interactive technology user interface (UI) design principles are integrated into the program to emphasize the importance of creating applications that are intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing.

Problem-Solving Emphasis: The program underscores the development of strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Graduates will be adept at debugging, troubleshooting, and optimizing essential full-stack elements for efficiency and performance.

The Master of Engineering – Interactive Technologies is designed for individuals who are seeking to elevate their skills and knowledge to meet the demands of today's interactive technology landscape. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have a comprehensive understanding of full-stack development, positioning them as valuable assets in the software industry.

Structure of the studies

The extent of the study programme is 60 ECTS. The planned length of the studies is 1.5 years. The studies are composed of:
• Compulsory core competence studies 20 ECTS
• Elective complementary competence studies 10 ECTS
• Thesis work 30 ECTS.

The advanced studies common to each master school programme include studies in research methods and in future operating environments. The rest of the compulsory studies deepen the insight specific to each professional programme. Students may further deepen or expand their competence by choosing elective courses from their degree programme or other programmes or other universities.

The Master's Degree studies at TUAS Master School are flexible and can be completed while working full-time. Please note that studies include also contact lectures and teamwork on an average of 16 hours per 5 ECTS courses.
The thesis is a central part of the studies. The thesis work starts already at the beginning of the studies and is carried out as a working life-oriented development project. The thesis will not only develop the student's knowledge and skills in a certain study field and specific topic but also give the possibility to enhance skills in leading teams and work groups

Internationalisation

Internationalization starts with the student's own needs. An international perspective can be connected with the thesis.

Qualifications provided by the degree programme

The objectives for skill levels in a Master's Degree are based on the legislation concerning universities of applied sciences and the European Qualification Framework (EQF). The level corresponding to a Master's Degree is level 7.

The Master's degree in engineering is a university degree that gives the same eligibility for public positions and duties as, for example, a university degree at a university

Career opportunities

This Master's Degree program is designed for full-stack persons who will be working in challenging and complex next-generation information systems where emerging technologies are applied in innovative ways. Career opportunities can be found especially from the technology industry which is always applying the latest achievements of emerging technology development. Graduates from this degree will have versatile and comprehensive competence to build interactive, remote-controlled, and autonomous systems where the focus is on advanced UI design and visualization. In addition to specified interactive technology specialist positions in the areas of intelligent transportation, maritime, mining industry, military sector, and surgery, students can also find employment in industries ranging from technology and e-commerce to finance and healthcare.

Opportunities for further education

The studies provide eligibility for further scientific studies. Universities may set conditions on granting rights for further studies in the form of, for instance, supplementary transitional studies.

Cooperation with other parties

This Master's Degree program will be linked closely to Turku UAS RDI activities, especially to research activities of the research group called Futuristic Interactive Technologies which has large industrial networks in maritime, shipbuilding, logistics, professional training, and eHealth.

Research focus areas

As mentioned above, this program will be linked with our research group activities where research focus areas are in user-centric design, rapid prototyping, usability, user experience, and effectiveness studies for interactive technologies.

Development

The pedagogical approach applied in professional studies is Innovation pedagogy which refers to an approach of constructivist and problem-based learning. Master´s students study alongside their work and want to broaden and deepen their theoretical knowledge and get models to apply theory in their own work. Studying is part-time and involves only distant learning. In addition to individual learning, collaborative learning in teams is applied to meet the needs of working life. Integration between studies and applied RDI activities and working life orientation play an important role in the studies. Learning takes place in virtual and multi-disciplinary environments. The student creates an individual study plan (ISP) at the beginning of his/her studies, where he/she selects studies offered in Masters's programmes related to, among others, the completion of the master´s thesis. A central part of Industrial Quality Management studies is the master´s thesis in which the student will not only develop the knowledge and skills in a certain study field and specific topic but will also have the possibility to develop his/her work and workplace.

Further information

The objectives for skill levels in a Master’s Degree are based on the legislation concerning universities of applied sciences and the European Qualification Framework (EQF). The level corresponding to a Master’s Degree is level 7. The assessment criteria for each course are described in its implementation plan. Performance requirements vary depending on objectives, content, and method of implementation. The courses and the thesis are assessed on a scale of 0 to 5. The assessment focuses on competence and its development. The course assessment methods vary according to the objectives of the study module. Students receive regular feedback on their performance from their teachers. Peer- and self-assessment as well as commissioner feedback on performance are also utilized. The degree assessment framework is used as the basis for the assessment. The Degree Programme will be developed according to the principles of continuous improvement. In the development work, feedback from the students and working life as well as their initiatives have a key role. Feedback is collected with, for instance, student questionnaires and group-specific development discussions.