Impressive specialist competence
The Swedish Higher Education Authority entitles the University of Gävle the right to award degrees of Master of Science in Engineering, “civilingenjörsexamen,” a five-year programme, stating that the University: “conducts research well-suited for this type of programme and that there is specialist competence within an impressive range of subjects relevant to degrees of Master of Science in Engineering.”
“This is a big victory for our education and research, as the Master of Science in Engineering is a strong trademark associated with seriousness, competence, and a well-developed research environment,” says Magnus Isaksson, professor, responsible for the application for degree-awarding powers for the Master of Science in Engineering and project manager for strategic research development at the University of Gävle. “The Swedish Higher Education Authority assessment is very flattering; there are no areas in which they express any doubts in their report. This is a very strong case for the University.”
Exclusivity
Magnus Isaksson tells us that the University has built competence over time and have all degree-awarding powers within engineering and technology except for the Master of Science in Engineering. Still, there were more advanced alternatives for engineers at the University in place, because students have been able to combine a bachelor’s degree with a master’s degree.
“We can already award degrees of Bachelor of Science, degrees of Master of Science 60 credits and 120 credits, as well as degrees of Doctor of Philosophy in Science. However, the five-year long programme, civilingenjörsutbildningen, has been a missing piece. It is a very exclusive right to have.”
The Master of Science in Land Management and Surveying, a programme in great demand
The University now plans to start a Master of Science programme in land management and surveying in 2020. This programme is also offered by Lund University, but not with the particular technical specialisation that the University plans to offer.
“We will be able to offer a programme that is important to Sweden and there is a great demand for land surveyors in society.”
Big support from businesses in the region
The University of Gävle has had support from many of the businesses in the region in this application and the programme in land management and surveying has been developed in close collaboration with Lantmäteriet.
“The support and commitment from the business sector have been invaluable, as has our partnership with Lantmäteriet. Now, we begin with this five-year programme, the Master of Science in Land Management and Surveying, but we may realise other specialisations in the future,” Magnus Isaksson says.
“There is great demand for engineers with a master of science and this is important both regionally and nationally. I would like to thank everybody who has worked for getting the rights for the programme at the University of Gävle, Vice-Chancellor Ylva Fältholm states.
For more information, please contact:
Magnus Isaksson, professor and project manager for strategic research development at the University of Gävle.
Phone: 026-64 82 49, 070-360 82 49
Email: magnus.isaksson@hig.se
Text:Douglas Öhrbom