Joint international master in smart systems integration: University collaboration for improved education

Abstract

The Joint International Master in Smart Systems Integration (SSI) graduates candidates for the ever-growing industry of Smart Systems, ubiquitous in all sectors of society including healthcare, transport, environment protection, energy and security. SSI is given jointly by three universities in three European countries: Heriot-Watt University (HWU) (Edinburgh, Scotland), University College of Southeast Norway (HSN), and Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) (Hungary), utilizing the complementary expertise and laboratory facilities of the three partners to create a unique programme with a more holistic approach than a single university could give. The programme is run in close collaboration with industry, to assure its relevance. SSI has Erasmus Mundus status, and the graduates receive a Joint Degree. SSI students benefit from the extended competence the consortium can provide, as well as from the extended socio-cultural knowledge obtained by living in three different European countries that represent distinctively different aspects of the diverse Europe. The students in the programme show excellent performance, and the employability of graduates has proven to be very high. The partner universities benefit from the high performance of the students, and from the intimate interaction with the partners allowing exchange of best practice in education, teaching and evaluation.