Future Engineers Enrol in Metropolia’s New Degree Programme in Robotics
The new English-language Degree Programme in Robotics Engineering trains experts for a range of sectors to advance a sustainable future.
Metropolia’s new Bachelor of Engineering degree programme in Robotics Engineering was launched this autumn. The programme admitted 28 students, who study robotics in relation to a wide range of fields: social and health care, various industrial sectors, construction engineering and more.
Robotics encompasses all systems that operate autonomously, that is, without direct human control. Robotics engineers are increasingly needed in, for example, industry, healthcare, agriculture and logistics. Timo Roine, Metropolia’s Degree Programme Coordinator and Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, says that Metropolia’s new robotics degree programme offers a multidisciplinary approach that covers several technologies, such as automation, mechatronics, programming and artificial intelligence.
“From a technological perspective, one megatrend is the increasing autonomy and automation of everything. Autonomy is now used in all things that fly, drive, float, or dive. In the future, engineers will play a key role in developing autonomous solutions for a wide range of applications across industry, society and the home”, Roine says.
First-year Robotics student Neo Borgers chose to study at Metropolia because the programme sounded interesting. At Metropolia, students get to work hands-on and gain practical experience with robots.
“Robots have always fascinated me, and the rapid pace of development in the field is particularly exciting. I want to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes and how robots are made to work. I’m looking forward to learning how to build and program robots at Metropolia, as well as gaining a broader understanding of robotics and its future. I also want to develop other useful skills, such as coding and problem-solving, that I can apply in other fields and roles as well,” Borgers says.
Metropolia’s Humanoid Robot to Lecture Robotics Students This Autumn
Metropolia has one of the first humanoid robots in Finland capable of acting as a lecturer in a higher education institution. At the beginning of September, the robot gave students a short lecture on “Future Visions of Robotics”. Metropolia’s researchers have equipped the humanoid robot with artificial intelligence, enabling it to hold conversations and answer students’ questions.
According to Timo Roine, Metropolia’s robotics degree programme is unique because it provides cross-disciplinary education in the field. In addition, the programme places particular emphasis on students’ innovation capability and entrepreneurship. By strengthening a student’s innovation capability, they gain the ability to systematically create something new. Students are encouraged to adopt a startup and entrepreneurial mindset, which Roine sees as key skills for future professionals.
The Robotics Engineering degree provides students with strong and versatile professional competence in robotics for the working life of the future.
“During their studies, students acquire broad knowledge of automation, artificial intelligence, and machine mechanics. Thanks to the knowledge and skills gained during their studies and the practical, hands-on teaching, graduates are able to build, maintain and design automated robotic solutions that support a sustainable future,” Roine says.
The degree programme is offered in English because robotics is expected to become a strong export sector for Finland. The field is highly international, and the degree programme’s student body is partly international as well.
Further information
Timo Roine
Degree Programme Coordinator, Senior Lecturer
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Timo.Roine [at] metropolia.fi (Timo[dot]Roine[at]metropolia[dot]fi)