Electrical engineering, practical semester or semester abroad

• Drive systems and automation
  The specialization in drive systems and automation focuses on the components of modern drive systems and the associated process automation.
• Electrical energy and environmental engineering
  The Electrical Energy and Environmental Engineering specialization deals with the resource-saving generation, distribution and application of energy, taking into account both economic and ecological issues.
• Industrial electronics and sensor technology
  The Industrial Electronics and Sensor Technology specialization focuses on electronic components, the development of which is taught in discrete and integrated form.

All three specializations offer a high degree of practical relevance. Many of the modules are offered with a practical component.

Further details can be found in the following fold-outs.

Automation has become enormously important in industry and is indispensable in almost all areas of production. Drive systems are almost ubiquitous. We find them in trains, vehicles, machine tools and processing machines, pumps and conveyor systems as well as in heating systems, refrigerators, computers and consumer electronics. In addition, electric drives play a key role in saving energy in industry today, as they account for almost a third of energy consumption. Drive systems are the central elements of automation, for which a high degree of component flexibility is required. In the course of rapid technological development in recent decades, new drive systems are constantly being created based on new materials and production technologies. High energy densities thanks to new magnetic materials now enable drives with high dynamics in the smallest of spaces. New developments, for example in the field of power electronics and in the area of signal and communication processors, ensure that drive technology will continue to evolve in the future. The consideration of drive systems in their complex structure is a key competence for the successful use and further development of components. The resulting interactions between the individual subsystems are familiarized with, examined and evaluated during the course.

The specialization in Drive Systems and Automation teaches practical, application-oriented topics relating to equipment, methods and tools in modern automation and drive technology. The necessary skills for designing market-oriented solution concepts are developed.

Software-supported tools for finding solutions in real systems are becoming increasingly important. These are used both in the design and implementation of these systems. As a result, the use of programming languages and modern computer science methods is an important part of the course. In line with the very wide range of applications of drive systems today, with their core components of control and regulation technology, power electronics, data transmission systems and electric drives, there is a wide range of applications in industry.

The reliable, safe, resource-saving and affordable supply of electrical energy is an essential prerequisite for a modern society. Increasing demands are being placed on systems for the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy, as well as its environmentally friendly use. These increased demands can be met through applied information and communication technologies, new methods of rational energy use, for example through the use of microprocessor-controlled power components, as well as computer-aided optimization of systems and components using modern software and engineering methods. The efficient use of electrical energy and the development of alternative energy sources are among the most important challenges facing mankind in the future.

The liberalization of the energy markets is leading to fundamental changes in existing supply structures and thus to completely new areas of responsibility. Both the established supply companies and the new market participants will have to meet the requirements of free electricity trading in terms of personnel. In addition, new information and grid control systems are needed, so that manufacturers, service companies and users can also expect increased demand in this area for graduates who have a sound knowledge of the energy process, modern information technology and applied microelectrical engineering.

The former energy supply companies have been restructured into independent areas of electricity production, grid operation and energy trading in the course of the abolition of closed supply areas. In contrast to other product markets, however, the technical constraints still have to be taken into account in the electrical energy supply sector, as electrical energy cannot be stored to any significant extent and cannot be individualized by means of manufacturer or customer specifications. The technically challenging task of grid operation is to continue to guarantee a high level of supply reliability despite free grid access for all market participants. The current shift away from centralized large-scale power plants towards increasingly decentralized feed-in is dependent on a network that is efficient through engineering planning. This is necessary both for the planning of new constructions, conversions and grid expansions as well as during ongoing operations in order to prevent grid problems, supply bottlenecks or even large-scale blackouts.

In the field of large-scale primary equipment, especially in high-voltage technology, there are particularly high demands on service life and reliability, both in normal operation and in the event of a fault. Here, the entire product life cycle of development, production, testing, sales and maintenance must be given the utmost attention.

Building on a sound electrical engineering education, rounded off by control engineering and signal processing, this specialization provides special technical and methodological knowledge in relation to the development and testing of analog and digital electronic components, assemblies and systems. In particular, engineers are familiar with the boundary conditions in the development of sensor systems and are able to implement such systems in line with industrial requirements.

To this end, graduates are equally proficient in analog and digital circuit technology and their modern development methods from the front end to the back end. Industry-relevant tool chains are used for simulation and implementation.

A lot of space is given to the acquisition of software design methods as a key qualification. By applying these to microcontrollers, graduates are then able to implement software for control and regulation systems and to assess and specify the requirements for a hardware-software interface.

With the increasing complexity and interdisciplinarity of technical systems, the fields of testing and verification are becoming ever more important. Graduates are familiar with the relevant measurement technology and can configure and program test systems. The knowledge imparted regarding test software and hardware corresponds to the industrial standard. With this knowledge, they will also be able to ensure the testability of components during development.

The area of discrete circuit development includes the design of printed circuit boards. Emphasis is placed on production-ready design and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Important industrial requirements with regard to reliability, accuracy, safety and service life are also taken into account.

The teaching of modern, model-based development methods promotes thinking in system contexts. This enables graduates to create models for components, systems and subsystems and to verify them before implementation.

Increasing miniaturization, e.g. in sensor nodes in the Internet of Things, makes it necessary to implement many electronic systems as microelectronic circuits. The basic design methods (analog and digital) for this are taught in the in-depth course. Fachhochschule Dortmund's Europractice membership ensures that it can work with the most modern tools at industry level and that the production of chips can be incorporated into student projects and theses.

What makes Fachhochschule Dortmund special? What should you know about the city and the region? How is Fachhochschule Dortmund positioned in terms of internationality and what advice and support do we offer you? Find out more about Fachhochschule Dortmund.

If you are interested in technology, eager to learn and goal-oriented, the Electrical Engineering study program could be the right one for you. Do you enjoy working with future technologies and solving complex tasks? Then we would like to welcome you. It is helpful if you had a good grasp of math and science at school. Knowledge of English is important, as technical literature is often written in English. Of course, appropriate vocational training (electrician, energy technician, plant electronics technician) is also an ideal prerequisite for studying electrical engineering.

The qualification for studying at universities of applied sciences is proven by the certificate of the university of applied sciences entrance qualification or a previous education recognized as equivalent.

The study program starts annually in the winter semester and is admission-free.

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