14-06-2023
On June 7th, NOVA FCT hosted the presentation event for the Master's in Advanced Digital Manufacturing Engineering (MEFDA), which included a roundtable discussion on employment opportunities in the sector, among other topics.
"With the increasing digitalization of all types of processes, including production and manufacturing processes, we felt it was necessary and made perfect sense to combine the fields of Mechanics, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and IT in a multidisciplinary manner. It's important for us to expose our students to this type of content and the synergy between these different areas to provide an adequate response to the emerging needs of the industrial sector and the requirements and qualifications that companies require from our graduating students," stated Telmo Santos, Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, during the event's opening session.
During the master's degree presentation, the Coordinator presented its general characteristics, highlighting the unique nature of this master's degree, integrating four complementary scientific areas: Industrial Management Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Engineering, which are typically isolated in traditional master's degrees. This allows for the training of future professionals with a multidisciplinary approach to engineering.
Finally, the €3,500/year tuition fee was also explained and justified, based on a management and sustainability model based on three fundamental aspects: continuous investment in creating the best teaching conditions; an emphasis on a practical approach to engineering education through the active participation of companies; and financial support for students through merit scholarships funded by the master's partner companies.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the partner companies who participated in a roundtable discussion on the market needs of this sector. Present at this event were Vasco Burguete, Director of Engineering and Development at João de Deus, Aurélio Caldeira, Human Resources Director at BorgWarner, and Paulo Sá Ribeiro, Business Consulting Manager at Deloitte.
"With this master's degree, I finally see, for the first time, academia trying to design a 'product' that makes perfect sense in relation to the current challenges facing companies. When I look at the content of your master's degree, I think: this is what our company needs: this multidisciplinary approach, people with this skill set," said Aurélio Caldeira.
Paulo Sá Ribeiro added that "Deloitte also sees this Master's degree as a major advance in university guidance for preparing students to develop profiles capable of meeting the challenges of the future."
João de Deus made a point of listing what companies, and specifically this company, can offer students of this master's degree: "Based on the experience of JDEUS/DENSO, [...] future engineers will have the opportunity to benefit from an international project, establishing direct connections with key players in key sectors, such as major automotive manufacturers, and, on the one hand, they will be trained to develop businesses. [...] Furthermore, there is a people-centered corporate culture, fostering an agile and dynamic work environment."
The session is still available to interested parties here.
