MSc in Strategic Product Design
International Hellenic University (IHU)
Key Information
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Campus location
Thessaloniki, Greece
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
18 - 27 months
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
30 Sep 2024
Earliest start date
Oct 2024
Introduction
The MSc in Strategic Product Design Programme is being offered by the School of Science & Technology of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University. The programme aims to provide innovative education at the postgraduate level with an interdisciplinary approach as regards the design, development, management and production of products of every scale in the context of modern production and distribution technologies as well as modern forms of administration. The Programme is targeted towards graduates including professionals who wish to broaden their knowledge in the following fields:
- Product and Services Management,
- Product Creativity and Design and
- Industrial Design and Innovation.
The most important factor for the development of innovative industrial and technological products is the existence of high-level human resources with the appropriate knowledge and skills. In this context, it is of particular importance to increase the opportunities for education and training by enhancing knowledge, skills and qualifications to increase employment opportunities for the people involved in the innovation and manufacturing industry and the management and supply of high-quality products.
The International Hellenic University MSc in Strategic Product Design programme offers postgraduate students a thorough understanding of theory and practice in the areas of product design. The programme provides graduates, from various disciplines, with a key set of skills, hands-on experience with advanced software along with state-of-the-art 3D equipment and management of operations knowledge for real-world projects, which are crucial to achieving success in their chosen career. In particular, the MSc invests in innovation and trains students in various technical, economic, managerial and business aspects of 3D printing, a disruptive technology which is expected to replace in the future certain traditional production methods, reform the whole industrial process chain and also create a new innovative industry.
Aims and Objectives
The aims and objectives of the programme are summarized as follows:
- Understanding of the current status and future trends in product design
- Hands-on experience with advanced software and state-of-the-art equipment
- Collaborations and consultation with design and engineering companies
- Marketing and branding of new products
- Interdisciplinary approach to design thinking
- Management of operations knowledge for real-world projects
- Innovation-driven design and entrepreneurship
- An insight into production techniques and modern applications
Design and management leadership
The MSc in Strategic Product Design is designed for university graduates with the following academic backgrounds: Engineering, Geotechnical, Natural Sciences, Businessand /Economics. Leading academics from prestigious academic institutions from Greece and abroad, together with key players from industry and product design related organizations, teach in the programme.
The courses of the programme are taught exclusively in English. The academic staff comes from Universities in Greece and abroad.
Admissions
Curriculum
During the first term, students are required to follow five core courses. During the second term, students are required to follow four core courses tailoring their programme further by two elective courses or a consulting project. Finally, in the third semester (and fourth semester in the case of pursuing a research-based dissertation), work is dedicated exclusively to the Master’s dissertation. The dissertation provides an opportunity to apply theory and concepts gained during the year to a real-world problem.
1st Term Core Courses
- Introduction to Strategic Product Design
- New Product Development
- Marketing Analysis and Brand Research
Core Courses – Stream Product and Services Management
- Design and Production
- Strategies for Extroversion
Core Courses – Stream Product Creativity and Design
- 3D Computer Aided Design (Rhinos)
- Design Thinking
Core Courses – Stream Industrial Design and Innovation
- 3D Computer Aided Design (SolidWorks)
- Industrial Design Project
2nd Term Core Courses
Core Courses – Stream Product and Services Management
- Consumer Behaviour
- Service Design
- Project Management
- Purchasing and Negotiations
Core Courses – Stream Product Creativity and Design
- Creative Digital Media
- Ergonomics – Human Factors
- Design Morphology and Aesthetics
- Advanced Modeling and Fabrication
Core Courses – Stream Industrial Design and Innovation
- Materials Technology
- Ergonomics – Human Factors
- Design Morphology and Aesthetics
- Advanced Manufacturing Systems
The elective courses During the second term students tailor their programme further by choosing elective courses. The choice of elective courses must sum up to 6 ECTS (2 courses or a consulting project). Some of the elective courses may not be offered in a particular year, depending entirely on student demand.
2nd Term Elective Courses
Elective Courses – Stream Product and Services Management
- Consulting Project in Product Management
- Operations Management
- Strategic Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Design for Supply Chain and Logistics
- Technology Management and Business Engineering
- Cost Management and Financial Analysis
- Open Topics in Strategic Product Design (TBA)
Elective Courses – Stream Product Creativity and Design
- Consulting Project in Product Creativity Product and Design
- Advanced Materials and Processes
- Human Computer Interaction, Design and User Experience
- Design for the Environment
- Communication Design
- Product Photography
- Open Topics in Strategic Product Design (TBA)
Elective Courses – Stream Industrial Design and Innovation
- Consulting Project in Industrial Design and Innovation
- Computational Mechanics
- Reverse Engineering and 3D Printing
- Advanced Surface Modelling
- Biomimicry in Design
- Automation and Robotics
- Open Topics in Strategic Product Design (TBA)
The Dissertation
During the third semester, students work on their Master’s Dissertation project, the thematic area of which is relevant to their programme of studies and their interests. The dissertation is the opportunity to apply theory and concepts learned in different courses to a real-world problem or research question. Students are supervised throughout their projects by a member of the academic faculty and the academic associates of the School. After submission of the dissertation, students present their projects to classmates and faculty. Students have the option to pursue a research-based dissertation of two semesters which leads to MSc in Research in Strategic Product Design and they are awarded with 120 ECTS.
Scholarships and Funding
The School of Science & Technology offers a number of scholarships for the programmes it offers, covering a significant proportion of the fees. These scholarships are competitive. Award criteria include the quality of the first degree, the undergraduate grades of the candidate, his/her command of the English language and overall profile.
Candidates for scholarships should include a separate letter with their application documents in which they request to be considered for a scholarship, stating the reasons why they think they qualify.
Career Opportunities
Given the dynamic role of the manufacturing and innovation sector in industrial and technological enterprises and the need for the provision of specialized scientific knowledge it is quite evident that there is a need for a postgraduate programme in “Strategic Product Design” which will provide the necessary interdisciplinary technical knowledge and cover the corresponding market needs and which will be aimed at a number of professionals (engineers, fine arts graduates, economists, computer programmers, business management graduates, science graduates etc.). Graduates of the MSc in Strategic Product Design can indicatively follow the career paths listed below:
- Positions in companies requiring design and management leadership
- Positions in design studios – engaging in various stages of the product development process, from concept to detail design and analysis
- Positions in companies producing industrial products such as electrical and electronic devices, clothing, food (packaging design), mechanical components, plastics etc.
- Positions in consulting companies dealing with product design, product development, entrepreneurship and innovation
- Research positions – conducting research and pursuing Doctoral studies in the field of design
- Teaching positions in Higher Educational Institutions, secondary education, technical and vocational training, public and private education at a theoretical, technical and applied level
- Positions in innovative knowledge-intensive start-up companies (or creation of their own start-up companies) where skilled knowledge is needed in order to understand the opportunities and challenges provided by new digital design and manufacturing technologies (e.g. 3D printing) as well as the management of disruptive technologies in terms of financial figures, costing and management
In addition to technical skills gained through study, our students benefit from the University’s excellent Careers Office in order to attain essential soft skills (e.g. communication skills, interview preparation, CV writing etc.) to better prepare for the job market.