Mission Statement on the IVE Degree Course

The transition of diploma degrees to a bachelor’s and master’s structure within the Bologna declaration has led to profound changes in study courses that are still looking confusing throughout Europe (see the link below of the Federal Ministry of Science and Research/BMWF).

Against the background of these developments, it seems useful to characterise the study degree with some general statements before explaining the formal and content-related quality.

These can be understood as the ‘Mission Statement’ of the degree course and form a ‘Social Contract’ as a foundation for all forms of cooperation.

In written form, the mission statement can be specified as follows:

• Those responsible for the degree course are aware of the high importance of the decision for a course and its future perspectives in the job market. This is why the benchmark for all actions is to ensure and extend these perspectives to an optimum.

• We are always trying to keep a cooperative relationship between students and teachers (professors and lecturers). The teachers set the same expectations for themselves as they expect from students concerning analytical and critical abilities, international orientation, and scientific responsibility. 

• In daily life, values such as performance, orientation and willingness, tolerance, engagement, truthfulness and mutual respect should not only be manifested in words but also be lived. This is why we understand aspects such as punctuality, attendance and concentrated work as a matter of fact in all lectures and exercises.

On basis of these general principles, the content of the IVE course aims at the following four teaching and learning goals:

1. the teaching of scientific and engineering fundamentals such as e.g. mathematics, technical mechanics, CAD, construction and electrical engineering
2. the teaching of economical skills necessary for a successful perception of complex purchasing and sales responsibilities (such as marketing, law, sales engineering, management accounting and management information systems)
3. the explicit appreciation of the international dimension of these tasks on a language- and problem-related level. Accordingly, it is mandatory to acquire language skills at a certified level (e.g. Cambridge Certificate). On basis of these language qualifications, some lectures in the 5^th and 6^th semester that cover transnational company activities (e.g. customs, intercultural management, foreign commerce calculations and financing) are held in English
4. being aware of the increased importance of ‘soft skills’ such as communication and conflict skills or capacity for teamwork, the teaching contents are designed in a way that ensures a variety of possibilities to train the students abilities.

The course ends after six semesters with a bachelor’s thesis and the title Bachelor of Engineering.

At the moment, it is only possible to start the study course in the winter semester. The application for approval must be received by the Admissions Office by the 15^th July, so the studies can begin in the winter semester (01.09.-28.02.).