Engineers trained in an interdisciplinary way are in high demand in today’s business world, and can look forward to outstanding prospects on the job market. In 1998, with the advent of the part-time degree program Engineering & Environmental Technologies, a unique opportunity was established. At the crossroads of economics and management, this technology-oriented program lives up to the highest international standards. Combining first-class lec turers from the fields of economics, science, excellent practical training, and a limited number of students, leads to an atmosphere which guarantees perfect study conditions to obtain a degree that offers a bright future with promising career opportunities.

Graduates of this program, which is unique in Austria, have received an unequaled interdisciplinary education and are ready to meet the demands of technological challenges, and to judge the effects of technological developments in both the business and the social spheres. This degree program not only focuses on the development, application, supervision, and continued optimization of engineering processes, but also on the introduction of new technologies, materials, and processes especially in the area of environmental protection.

The complexity of modern process plants requires safe and efficient operations. One special emphasis of these studies is therefore in the field of process control, measurement, and automation technology.

Because of the nature of their interdisciplinary training and the emphasis on practical experience, the graduates of this program are particularly qualified in the following areas, all incorporating skills in both engineering and management:

• research and development
• planning
• production
• quality control and quality management
• sales
• environmental technology and protection
• environmental impact studies and ecological auditing
• control engineering

Process engineering is a separate field of engineering concerned with the processing and transformation of raw materials into marketable intermediate and end products. More than fifty percent of industrial production in the German-speaking industry essentially depend on process engineering, for example, the production of fuels, sugars, plastics, proteins, cosmetics, alcohols, pesticides or medications.

In view of the increasing pollution of our environment by waste and hazardous substances in waste water and emissions, and considering the related negative impact on the quality of our lives, technical environmental protection is gaining ever more importance. Over the past few years environmental technology has therefore not only developed into a key technology for our future but has also, from an economic perspective, become a growth sector.

Control engineers are optimizing industrial processes. It is their task to automate these processes in order to ensure efficient and safe production and to develop environmentally safe production conditions, which protect nature and natural resources. The focus is on measurement (using sensors) and loop control using the relevant computer systems.

The degree program comprises 6 semesters and includes about 123 hours per semester, amounting to a total of approximately 1,845 hours of instruction. The classroom language is generally German; lectures and exams can also be held in English.

A semester’s duration is from September until February and from February until July. Classes in this program are held in block form on three evenings a week, as well as during the day on Saturdays; as a rule, class attendance is mandatory.

The course of study is divided into 24 complementary modules. Based on the core competence process engineering a detailed specialization is possible in the following fields:

• Environmental technology
• Control engineering

In cases where students are not already working in the relevant technical field, they are required to complete a hands-on training program with a minimum duration of 13 weeks. The last study year contains also the completion of two Bachelor’s theses.

contents

In view of the fact that Austria’s economic structure is international in scope, a global perspective is a significant component of this program. This approach is reflected in the composition of the faculty, the students, the curriculum, and the projects. Particular importance is placed on the students’ capability to communicate effectively in English.

More information can be found at www.mci.edu/com/international.

the program accepts

• Applicants with a general university entrance qualification (school-leaving exam, relevant university entrance equivalency exam, vocational certificate, etc.).
• Applicants with a relevant professional qualification (e.g. apprenticeship, supervisory training, technical college degree, advanced technical college entrance qualification) plus supplementary certification in German, English, Mathematics / Statistics and Physics.

The relevance and recognition of other types of diplomas is determined by the director of studies, who also determines which previous studies, professional experience, and additional knowledge is applicable and can be credited.

Applications for admission to the program shall be submitted on the basis of the standardized application form, including all required documentation, in accordance with the applicable deadline. Each year 30 students are admitted. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available places, admission will be based on the following criteria:

CAREER BACKGROUND 20%
WRITTEN EXAM 30%
INTERVIEW 50%

Requests for acknowledgment of studies, examinations or scientific activities can be addressed to the program director after admission to the course of studies.

In general the acknowledgement of single courses is favoured over acknowledging complete semesters. The Ministry of science and the accreditation authority have approved of accepting especially qualified HTL graduates into the 3rd semester of this Bachelor’s program, under certain conditions.

The academic staff consists of full-time professors and lecturers of MCI being enriched by acknowledged experts from the fields of science, technology, and business as well as the independent professions. This guarantees that the latest developments from research, innovation, and practical application are synergetical ly integrated in the curriculum of the program.

Coupling progressive didactic teaching methods with intensive mentoring ensures a practice-oriented education that offers the support needed to complete this course of studies within the projected time-frame. ‘Theoretical’ and ‘practical’ are not contradictory terms, but as a fusion offer opportunities and challenges for a new form of teaching and learning.

Students are required to pay a tuition fee of currently EUR 363 per semester plus membership fee to the Austrian Student Union. To prevent admitted students from failing to begin or dropping their studies, a deposit of currently EUR 363 must be paid at the beginning of the program. The deposit will then be used to pay the fee for the second semester. Students are also responsible for paying the required course mater ials distributed by MCI.

financial support

Graduates of the program are conferred the academic degree Bachelor of Science in Engineering, in short BSc or B.Sc. (attested by a leaving certificate, the Bachelor’s diploma, the international diploma supplement etc.). Other than embarking on their professional career, graduates will have the option of continuing their studies by a corresponding Master’s program in Austria or abroad.

MCI offers a number of internationally oriented Master’s programs. The Master’s programs Engineering, Environmental & Biotechnology and Industrial Engineering & Management (starting 2010) are addressed to the graduates of this Bachelor’s program. Grad uates of a Master‘s program are eligible to be admitted to corresponding doctoral studies.