Industrial Asset Management - Master's Degree Programme

With a master's degree in Industrial Asset Management students will have acquired expertise that is much in demand in various industrial sectors today. Industrial Asset Management is a multidisciplinary programme combining engineering disciplines with important operational management components to provide the new generation of engineers with core competencies for challenging and competitive careers. It has a modern twist to engineering education.  

Graduated students will obtain competitive competence on a master’s degree level in technology, and will develop knowledge related to engineering, operations, and management of advanced and complex industrial facilities/systems in private and public organizations. They will be able to apply the knowledge obtained in challenging industrial environments in all life cycle phases of complex engineering systems, (i.e. design, construction, installation, operations, maintenance, modification and removal).  

In general, graduate students will be qualified to participate in a range of engineering and operational tasks, both in private and public sectors. As the study programme consists of general principles and methods, they will be able to resolve challenges on advanced engineering and operational levels even outside his/her specialisation area in cooperation with experts from various other fields. Hence, the graduates will be qualified for many attractive job positions in modern land-based and offshore industrial sectors. 

Programme content, structure and composition 

With a total of 120 ECTS, this Master's programme consists of 20 ECTS Basic Methods (B) which consolidates and continues the mathematical and scientific foundation of the bachelor programme. Core subjects (C) constitute of 40 ECTS, which provide students broad and common learning platform in Industrial Asset Management, as well as expands subjects from the bachelor education. The remaining 60 ECTS consists of an additional 3rd semester subject, 20 ECTS elective subjects (E), and a final master's thesis of 30 ECTS (M). 

The Faculty will offer a list of recommended electives. The students themselves must check that they have the basic knowledge and fulfil any pre-requisites to be able to take these courses. Other electives of personal choice must be approved by the department, but students will have considerable freedom to choose appropriate elective courses, depending on personal interests and career opportunities. 

The Master's thesis can be done either at the Faculty or in cooperation with the industry. Many students base their master's theses on practical projects in different organizations. To be awarded a suitable and relevant topic for a master's thesis, a satisfactory progression must be shown as mentioned in the master thesis regulations. Project proposals for the master's thesis should be formally pre-approved by an academic staff member in the Industrial Asset Management group at the Department. 

UiS aims to offer all its programmes as planned, but the courses must still be subjected to availability of resources and a more than minimum number of student admissions. The content and extent of the program and individual courses can also be changed over time due to changes in the subject environment, use of new technology, new practices and theories and general social changes. 

The course work consists of lectures, project assignments, group work, obligatory and voluntary exercises and laboratory work. The invidual course descriptions provide further information about:  

• Lectures and instructions on academic activities  
• Curricular, compendiums and projects 
• Evaluation criteria  
• Exams  

Learning outcomes

After having completed the master’s programme in Industrial asset management, the student shall have acquired the following learning outcomes, in terms of knowledge, skills and general competences:

Knowledge

K1: The candidate has advanced and interdisciplinary knowledge in industrial assets and systems both in public and private sectors. 

K2: The candidate has thorough and relevant knowledge in engineering and management of advanced, complex and integrated industrial assets (ex. production systems / processes, production facilities, technical systems / machinery / equipment, etc.) in all life cycle phases (i.e. concept development and Design, construction and assembly, installation and commissioning, operation and maintenance, modification and upgrading, removal and recycling). 

K3: The candidate has knowledge of engineering, operations, and management of industrial assets that can be used for analysis, development, and innovation in new areas of practical and / or theoretical importance. 

K3: The candidate has the ability to analyze practical or academic problems in industrial assets based on history, traditions, and industrial and social needs. 

Skills

S1: The candidate can analyze existing theories, methods and interpretations in industrial assets (ex. Production systems / processes, production facilities, technical systems / machines / equipment, etc.) and work independently with practical and theoretical problem solving. The candidate can independently identify, map, analyze and solve challenging industrial processes / problems using existing theories, methods and interpretations in the field. 

S2: The candidate can use relevant methods and knowledge for research and professional development in an independent manner. 

S3: The candidate can analyze and relate critically to various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate practical and / or academic arguments related to engineering, operations, and management of industrial assets. 

S4: The candidate may conduct an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with current research ethical standards related to engineering, operational, and managerial activities. 

General Competence

G1: The candidate can analyze relevant academic and research ethical challenges and be eligible to participate in the development and implementation of new technologies, methods and principles, as well as engineering, operations, or management solutions for industrial assets in the industry. 

G2: The candidate can apply knowledge and skills in new areas to carry out advanced tasks and projects related to industrial assets. 

G3: The candidate can communicate comprehensive work professionally and independently, and master terminology, language and expression in industrial assets. 

G4: The candidate can communicate professional issues, as well as analyzes and conclusions in the field, both with specialists and the general public. 

G5: The candidate can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes in technology and management of advanced, complex and integrated industrial assets in all life cycle phases. 

Syllabus

Career prospects

The programme qualifies the graduates for a broad range of positions in private industry and public organizations. Since the core of the master programme consists of commonly usable principles and methods, graduate students can qualify for many attractive job positions in both Land-based and offshore industry.

In general, the graduates will be well qualified for positions within various sectors inclusive of facility/plant owners or operators, service and technology providers, engineering contractors, consultants, authorities, as well as public institutions who are involved in designing, building, operating, removing, and/or recycling of advanced and complex engineering facilities and systems. This can include for instance, energy production and distribution, manufacturing, infrastructure, offshore systems and platforms, processing facilities, and a wide variety of other engineering and service industry.

Many will also have interesting job opportunities within research, education, or in public sector devoted to control, regulation and law enforcement of industrial sectors.

Moreover, a completed master's degree with a minimum average grade B for Subjects and grade A or B for Master thesis may qualify for admission to an engineering/technical PhD programme at the University of Stavanger. 

Course assessment

Schemes for quality assurance and evaluation of studies are stipulated in Quality system for education