Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Distance and Independent Studies Center
Master Program in Software Engineering for Embedded Systems
The program is offered in partnership with the
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering.
Representatives of the industry have expressed a great demand for a part-time training program to re-train the existing professional engineering work force in software engineering. Therefore, the Distance and Independent Studies Center (DISC) has developed a high-quality part-time distance program called "Software Engineering for Embedded Systems". This program includes theoretical scientific background knowledge as well as practical methods, techniques, and tools that equip the engineer to deal with software development for embedded systems issues:
- The program represents the state-of-the-art in software engineering for embedded systems.
- It has been developed by international top experts in the software engineering domain, who are high-ranking researchers and are recognized in the industry because of their extensive practical experiences.
High Demand for Software Engineering Practitioners
Today, traditionally hardware-dominated product domains are increasingly turning into software-dominated ones. Many of the companies and organizations in these transitional domains still employ mostly traditional engineers without a profound education and training in software and software engineering.
Software engineering focuses on:
- the specification of system structure and behaviour,
- the implementation of these specifications,
- the activities required in order to assure that the specifications have been met,
- the development of such systems over space (distributed development, subcontracting) and time evolution, maintenance.
The increasing complexity of software, the rising demand for secure and high quality software in embedded systems, and the constant change and development of new software engineering methods, techniques, and tools make it necessary that engineers in the embedded systems domain (e.g. automotive, medical and military) receive additional education in software engineering.
Participating institutions
The program was being planned by the DISC of the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern (TUK) and Fraunhofer IESE. The program is organized and run by the DISC. This section provides more detailed information on both institutions.
The university is home to about 14,500 students. A strong cluster of affiliated research institutes in an adjacent science park supports its focus on technical and science education. The university reflects a special profile and orientation towards applied research, which is emphasized by a number of highly prestigious centres of excellence and well-established cooperation with international and German industries. Its highly qualified and motivated faculty attracts talented students from all over the world, which creates an international and multi-cultural teaching and research environment. The university has an inviting modern campus located in the Palatine Forest (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve).
Kaiserslautern is famous for its soccer team “Red Devils” and was selected as one of the official venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The city’s unique mixture of high tech and unspoiled nature, history and modernity makes for an international but still traditional German city. The Computer Science Department is very active in research and education. There are currently 24 groups covering the entire spectrum of research topics, focusing particularly on:
- >> Information and Communication Systems
- >> System and Software Engineering
- >> Knowledge-based and Multimedia Systems
Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE)
The Fraunhofer IESE in Kaiserslautern currently has 200 employees who perform research in the areas of software development, software quality management, and software competence management. Together with its sister institute in the USA, Fraunhofer IESE offers processes, methods, and techniques for developing software-based systems according to engineering-style principles. In doing so, it follows an empirical approach: Through proven, innovative solutions, products based on software can be brought to the market with a measurably higher degree of efficiency.
The customers of Fraunhofer IESE come from domains where products are dominated by software: automotive and transportation systems, telecommunications, telematics and service providers, medical systems, as well as information systems and applications in the public sector. The institute provides support to companies of any size – from international corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises. The public sector also plays an important role as a project partner.
Fraunhofer IESE, founded in 1996, is directed by Prof. Peter Liggesmeyer.
It is one of 72 institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which, as the largest applied research organization in Europe, contributes to national and international competitiveness. Since the founding of the institute, a close relationship between the Fraunhofer IESE and the University of Kaiserslautern has existed in both academia and research. As assistant lecturers, employees of the institute contribute to the high level of practice-oriented education in the Department of Computer Science. The area of Software Engineering, represented until recently by the working group of Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Rombach, was further expanded with the new working group “Software Engineering: Dependability” led by Prof. Dr. Peter Liggesmeyer. In joint projects with third-party funds, the basic research of the Department of Computer Science and the applied research of Fraunhofer IESE complement each other ideally.
Fraunhofer Academy
In 2005, the Fraunhofer Academy was established as a central unit to support Fraunhofer institutes in offering advanced training programs. With the range of training and development courses, the Fraunhofer seek to contribute to the creation of an innovation culture in Germany and Europe. Especially the service-oriented online Master programs like IESE‘s “Software Engineering for Embedded Systems” are perfectly suited to create new opportunities for software professionals. In cooperation, we provide a program that provides best-in-class theoretical and practical aspects of software engineering. Further information can be found at
http://www.academy.fraunhofer.de/
Other Programmes offered by Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Distance and Independent Studies Center (DISC)
Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
The Distance and Independent Studies Center is one of the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern‘s key scientific institutions. Its tasks comprise the initiation and development of further qualifications for university graduates who have already obtained an initial professional qualification. The range of measures that are offered in collaboration with the University’s departments and subject areas comprise program, program sequences, and study programs of varying lengths. One of the Center’s key focal points is the provision of distance learning programs, which can be taken on a part-time basis while pursuing a career.
More than 4,100 students are currently enrolled in the distance learning programs of Adult Education, Human Resource Management, School Management, Social Sciences: Organization and Communication, Systemic Management, Organizational Development, Systemic Consulting, Management of Health and Social Institutions, Management of Cultural and Non-Profit Organizations, Economy and Management, Commercial Law for Business Practice, Tax Law for Business Operations, Sustainable Development Cooperation, Software Engineering for Embedded Systems, Medical Physics, Medical Physics and Technology, Structural Fire Protection/ Safety Engineering, Child Psychology: Learning and Learning Disabilities, Nanotechnology and Nanobiotechnology.
The University of Kaiserslautern
History
The University of Kaiserslautern was founded on July 13, 1970. At the beginning, it was part of the twin University Trier / Kaiserslautern. In the winter semester 1970/1971, student and scientific activities started with the matriculation of 191 new students in the faculties of Mathematics, Physics, and Technology. In 1972, the set-up of the faculties Chemistry and Biology gave a boost to the extension of a scientifically specialized structure. At the same time, the faculty of Technology was split into the faculties Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, Architecture / Regional and Environmental Planning / Educational Sciences. The University of Kaiserslautern became independent after the separation from its partner university in Trier in 1975.
The following faculties, which were established successively, continuously strengthened the university‘s scientific character: Electrical Engineering (1975), later Electrical and Computer Engineering (1999), Computer Science (1975), Engineering (1975), later Mechanical and Process Engineering (1995), Architecture / Regional and Environmental Planning / Civil Engineering (1978-1979) and Social and Economic Studies (1985), which was separated in 2003 in two independent departments.
The official name of the university is “Technische Universität Kaiserslautern” according to the new law on Higher Education of the Land Rhineland-Palatinate, which came into force on September 1, 2003.
Studies and Prospects
Future-oriented programs, education with practical orientation, and a modern infrastructure: these are the conditions for students at the TUK. Since its establishment in 1970, the only technology- and natural science-oriented university in Rhineland-Palatinate has gained a considerable reputation and can easily stand comparison with well-established universities of technology. Incontestable proof is provided by the latest German university rankings, which were carried out by the magazines Stern, Spiegel and CHE “Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung” (Center for University Development) and the “Humboldt-Stiftung” (Humboldt foundation). The TUK achieved top positions in different categories.
Prospective engineers and natural scientists will be well prepared for their career if they study at the TUK. Internships in companies as well as living/studying abroad provide an academic education that is closely related to professional practice. Furthermore, students profit from the numerous well-known research institutes on and near the campus. In terms of applied research projects, the institutes closely cooperate with the university.
There are, for example, the “Deutsches Forschungszentrum für künstliche Intelligenz” (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence), the “Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe” (Institute for Composite Materials), the “Fraunhofer-Institut für Experimentelles Software Engineering” (Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering), and the “Fraunhofer-Institut für Techno- und Wirtschaftsmathematik” (Fraunhofer Institute for Technical and Industrial Mathematics).
Currently, there are approximately 14,500 students enrolled at the university. Due to this manageable size, excellent support is guaranteed and a close relationship between professor and student can be built up. In addition, the university offers very modern equipment and a brilliant infrastructure, including libraries, laboratories, its own computer center, and much more. Accommodation for students is satisfactory, too: near the campus, there are more than 2000 resident hall facilities, where students can use the Internet free of charge.
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