StudyQA — Master: Service System Innovation — Blekinge Institute of Technology

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Description Contents Requirements

For product and service system innovation, there is a unique possibility to support and speed up societys development towards sustainability. The effects of resource extraction, production, distribution, usage and disposal of products that we see today on ecological and social systems show that current methods for product and service innovation are not sufficient. Positive and negative consequences during the entire life cycle of a product are largely decided through the decisions that are made already during early phases in the innovation process. Hence, it is important to integrate a sustainability perspective in the methodology for product and service system innovation. Also, the competitiveness of a company is highly dependant on the ability to create innovative products and services, both through value adding activities, and through reduced cost in development.

Increasingly more companies request skills for sustainable product and service system innovation to strengthen their competitiveness on an increasingly sustainability-driven global market. There is today a shortage of such competence and this programme aims to decrease this shortage.

The main field of study of the program is mechanical engineering with emphasis on the profiling areas at BTH: sustainability, innovation and systems engineering (applied IT).

A credit corresponds to a credit point in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Opportunity to study to 2-year Master (120 ECTS)
Students who chose to read 1-year 60 credit Master are able to read the second year of the master's program if they wish to continue their studies after the master's degree.

What is the difference between the Master and the Master's program?

The main difference between the educational objectives of the 60 credit s 120 credit programme is that students who choose to study for master's degree in the second year is expected to develop a deeper scientific approach in their work and to develop and demonstrate advanced knowledge in a specific application.

Qualification Awarded

The education leads up to a higher education qualification for second-cycle studies with the description:
Degree of Master of Science (One Year).

Main field of study: Mechanical Engineering.

To receive a Master of Science, at least 15 credits of mathematics or applied mathematics at university level must be included (see Appendix 2 in the BTH Degree Ordinance).

The programme is focused around BTH profiling areas: sustainability, innovation and systems engineering (applied IT). Supporting fields such as natural sciences, strategic leadership, entrepreneurship and project management are also included to a certain extent.
Certain courses are coordinated with students from the master's programme Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Development. For example, courses about strategic sustainable development and innovation will be introduced early for both the master's programmes so that all the students from these programmes will obtain the same platform. Thereafter, an advanced study of product and service system innovation will characterize the first year on this master's programme.
During the second year of the programme it is possible to choose between two specialisations. One of the specialisations is more research-oriented and is intended for students who want to continue as doctoral students or specialists in a company. The other track is for students who want to have a more practical specialisation and learn how one can substantiate a business concept with an orientation towards sustainable product and service system innovation. In the second track, coordination of some courses will take place with master students from the programme Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Development.
NOTE! It is the start term of the course that is stated below. See each course to find out the actual length of the course.

Courses autumn semester 2014
Compulsory courses
* Creativity for Product- and Service Development, 7.5 ECTS credits, second cycle.
* Introduction to Strategic Sustainable Development, 7.5 ECTS credits, second cycle.
* Engineering for a Sustainable Society, 7.5 ECTS credits, second cycle.
* Strategic Management towards Sustainability, 7.5 ECTS credits, second cycle.

For admission to the study programme, a Bachelor's degree (180 credits) in engineering, industrial economics, industrial design or equivalent is required together with English B.Admission CriteriaIf there are more qualified applicants than available places for the current programme start, a selection is made. This is done in the following way: GENERAL This method intends to assess the motivation of the applicant and her/his preconditions for studies on the Master's Programme in Sustainable Product - Service System Innovation. Selection criterion - Curriculum Vitae- An essay that explains the applicant's interest in the programme and that gives information about his or her relevant personal or professional experiences (as a maximum 5 pages, 12 pt. font, double spacing) - 2 reference letters (recommendations from two individuals who are familiar with the applicants' abilities and skills) - higher education gradesSPECIFICATION OF SELECTION CRITERION The ranking of the applicants will be based on the relative qualification level with respect to: - Academic results from earlier higher education - Relevance of higher education qualification (and the courses that are included) for scientifically based studies on master's level in sustainable product and service system innovation - Relevant professional experience - Manifestation of interest in Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation HIGHEST TARIFF As a maximum 8 credits are given, based on the following criteria: 1. Academic results from earlier higher education: - 2 credits: very good results (i.e. a considerable number of courses with grades well over the average - for example first class or pass with distinction) - 1 credit: good results (i.e. a considerable number of courses with grades over the average - for example second class upper division or pass with credit) - 0 credits: weak or sufficient results (i.e. a considerable number of courses with grades on the average or under - for example second class lower division or pass) 2. Relevance of higher education qualification: - 2 credits: engineering degree with a considerable number of courses within environment, sustainability, innovation, geoscience and/or socio-cultural studies or higher education qualification within industrial design or industrial economics with a considerable number of courses within natural sciences, sustainability, technology and/or socio-cultural studies - 1 credit: other engineering degree or higher education qualification within industrial design or industrial economics with a number of courses linked to sustainability or innovation - 0 credits: other engineering degree or higher education qualification within industrial design or industrial economics with few or no courses within sustainability, innovation, environment or natural sciences 3. Professional experience: - 2 credit points: in all equivalent to 3 or more years of work or voluntary experience in fields that are assessed as relevant for the Master's programme in Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation by the admission committee of the programme- 1 credit point: in all equivalent to 1-3 years of work or voluntary experience in fields that are assessed as relevant for the Master's programme in Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation by the admission committee of the programme - 0 credit points: in all equivalent to less than 1 year of work or voluntary experience in fields are assessed as relevant for Master's programme in Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation by the admission committee of the programme4. Manifestation of interest in the Master's programme Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation- 2 credit points: Expresses a clear interest for the programme and describes clearly how the relevant professional experience or the personal experiences are or can be relevant for system innovation from a sustainability perspective - 1 credit point: Expresses interest for the program and describes how the relevant professional experience or the personal experiences are or can be relevant for system innovation from a sustainability perspective- 0 credit points: Expresses no interest for the program and does not describe how the relevant professional experience or the personal experiences are or can be relevant for system innovation from a sustainability perspectiveWorking method Applications that have been accepted for review based on the basic entry requirements for the programme will be ranked according to the above by the admission committee of the programme, consisting of teachers for the programme. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 575 TOEFL iBT® test: 90