Study Guide

Descriptions

CURRICULUM
Bachelor of Engineering, Information and Communication Technology

Karelia University of Applied Sciences' degree in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides you an opportunity to gain an up-to-date and wide knowhow for working on the ICT field in Finland and especially in North-Karelia region. The studies take place in modern learning environments and are strongly linked to the real future expertise needs presented by ICT companies. In addition, all students in the degree program network with experts in local ICT companies during their studies according to their chosen specialization target.

Your studies will consist of ICT common core and complementary studies. You will learn fundamental ICT knowhow during the common core studies, and about a year of those studies are carried out in co-operation with the University of Eastern Finland. You can choose complementary studies from Karelia's offering and/or join to the one-year specialization studies offered by INVEST European University Alliance. At Karelia, you can complement your ICT studies in intelligent automation or software engineering. You can deepen your skills, for example, in machine learning, artificial intelligence, software robotics, big data and data analytics, the Internet of Things, and Lean thinking. In addition, you may deepen your ICT expertise in the INVEST specialization called Society 5.0 and Digital Transformation. That program focuses on data acquisition and processing, and computer networking.

Degree

Degree title Bachelor of Engineering
Extent 240 cr / 4 yrs

Description of Competences

ICT engineer needs the ability to apply knowledge to practice and good teamwork skills. Aiming at that goal, your studies will focus on three dimensions in the professional context: knowledge, skills, and disposition. Knowledge dimension designates an expertise in core concepts and content of ICT and application of learning to new situations. Skills refer to capabilities that develop during the studies via supervised practice and with interactions with others students and ICT experts. Dispositions include personal qualities such as socio-emotional skills, behaviors, and attitudes that describe the capacity to carry out tasks and the sensitivity to know when and how to participate in those tasks.

Firstly, you develop fundamental ICT knowledge and skills, and your capabilities to work as individual and as a team member during the common core studies. Those studies are common to all ICT engineering students and refer to those competencies (knowledge, skills, and disposition) that all students in all information technology degree programs must achieve. You will learn programming and application development skills, use of development environments and other technologies, operation of ICT infrastructure, basics of information security, data management, digital technology, computer networks, software automation, ICT business, management of software projects and development methods, and basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In addition, you develop the skills required in Finnish language and communication, as well as English (and Finnish nationals also in Swedish), and you will learn to update your skills in line with future technology trends. Therefore, you will be able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Secondly, you deepen your knowledge and skills in the complementary studies. Those studies prepare you for ICT professions on job-market. Currently, you can choose from two different ICT specialization based on your interest: intelligent automation and software engineering.

• As an intelligent automation expert, you have comprehensive and practical set of competencies that you can use to digitize, enhance and develop the services and processes of companies and other organizations. You are able to build digital service platforms, manage cloud and hybrid infrastructures, and develop intelligent automation solutions using for example the Internet of Things, machine learning, artificial intelligence, Digital Twins, and possibly quantum computing.

• As an software engineering expert, you know how to work in expert positions at different stages of software development. You will be able to apply the software engineering approach effectively and with the perspectives of customers and other stakeholders in mind. During your studies, you will learn how to make application programs that work locally, online, and in a variety of mobile devices. You have internalized the latest technologies and practices and you will be able to choose the right tools and methods for the development of those application programs.

In addition to the local specialization, you may choose to widen your knowledge in the INVEST European University Alliance specializations in the autumn of the third year. ICT related INVEST specialization is called Society 5.0 and Digital Transformation. In that specialization you learn how to deal with wicked problems towards urban and regional development and sustainability.

Thirdly, you may strengthen your personal qualities and know-how in the elective studies. You choose the electives based on your personal interests. Elective studies can be any studies offered by Karelia, other European universities, or you may advance your career by completing certain certifications offered by international ICT companies, for example, AWS Certifications via Amazon Web Services training.

Competence Development and the Content of Studies

The degree program contains 180 ECTS common core studies and 60 ECTS complementary studies.

The common core studies refer to those competencies that all students in the degree programs must achieve. Those studies develop you a solid foundation for professional ICT know-how. The studies contain 135 ECTS core courses, 30 ECTS supervised internship in working life, and 15 ECTS thesis. The thesis process is divided into three five-credit courses called Thesis Plan, Thesis Implementation, and Thesis Reporting.
T
he complementary studies related to software engineering and intelligent automation refer to those competencies that the students require for some locally valued specialization. Those studies contain 30 ECTS specialization studies, 15 ECTS project work, and 15 ECTS electives. These studies materialize on the 2nd and 3th year, and you can choose one of them. In addition to those locally valued specialization, you can choose INVEST specialization studies on the 4th year. Those studies prepare you to manage digital transformation and you gain technical expertise in fields of data acquisition and processing, and computer networking. INVEST studies contain 30 ECTS specialization studies, 15 ECTS living lab project and 15 ECTS thesis.

The first year studies focus is on the common core studies. You gain necessary basic knowledge and skills in programming, databases, information security, digital electronics, and IT infrastructure as a whole. You also learn teamwork skills and study languages. The first year studies lay a foundation for your professional development as an ICT professional.

The second year studies deepen your skills in programming and professional ICT skills, and you gain basic knowledge in specialization area you select. The common core studies focus on applied sciences, computer networks, fundamentals of software engineering, and deepen your programming skills. In addition, you further develop your professional language skills. The complementary studies related to software engineering studies focus on basic of web programming, deepen your database expertise, and you learn computer server management skills. Intelligent automation studies focus on IoT programming, IoT infrastructure as a whole, and the principles and practice of product and service quality.

The third year studies make you an ICT professional in your chosen field of specialization. The common core studies lead you to the world of modern software engineering. Studies cover the latest development of machine learning, data mining, data engineering and software engineering. In addition, you will learn the basics of scientific writing. The complementary studies related to software engineering focus on full stack software development including mobile platforms. Intelligent automation studies focus on technologies of smart regions, cities, and building, business process management and workflow automation, and generally intelligent automation. In addition you can choose 10 ECTS elective studies based on your personal interest. Hence, you can:

• deepen you knowledge in your specialization area
• widen your language skills
• take courses from other Karelia UAS degree programs. For example, from Industrial Mangement
• take courses from other universities. For example, from University of Eastern Finland

The project work is a significant part of the third year studies. It aims at adjusting teaching to the ongoing demands and challenges of the fast developing ICT field. The project work is a large entity, managed with agile methods, and contribute to deepening students knowledge in their specialization. A project organization comprises students acting in different roles, and instructors ensure the project members have sufficient skills and knowledge before starting a project by customized teaching. Projects are evaluated according to unified criteria to ensure balanced grading in order to support your professional development.

If you choose INVEST specialization program in the autumn of third year, the practical training of your studies are divided to two parts: the project work of local specialization studies and the research project in INVEST program’s living lab. That research project will materialize in the fourth study year.

The fourth year studies offer you two options depending on the choice you make on the third year. You may finalize your studies at Karelia or INVEST specialization program at INVEST partner university. At Karelia, you study research and development methodologies, do a thesis, choose 5 ECTS elective studies, and complete supervised internship (practical training) in some appropriate work. At INVEST program you study and analyse how the digital transformation can be shaped to ensure it supports transitions towards more sustainable societies. INVEST's partner in charge of studies is the University of Thessaly, hence, the contact studies take place in Greece.

Pedagogical Choices

The studies are implemented using multiform teaching and learning. Some of the studies are carried out in e-learning environment and cloud-based platforms, but some other studies require physical presence of the students. The used e-learning environments allow flexibility regarding the time and place of study (e.g. the recordings of the lectures and development platforms are accessible from outside of school). In spite of that, the face-to-face learning is necessary when students practise their communication and teamwork skills, and study IT infrastructure equipments and construction of computer networks. As a result of multiform teaching and learning, students learn to work in decentralized expert organizations, but also they internalize vital teamwork skills needed at workplaces.

In addition to school environment, the curriculum includes project studies that are carried out in close cooperation with local companies, and thus students learn to work in real life ICT projects. Hence, their studies will not only develop their professional knowledge but also their interaction and team work skills in authentic environments.

At the individual level, students will grow into the role of an independent developer and problem solver in the ICT sector. That process is supported via learning arrangements including, for example, lecture recordings, distance learning, and taking into account students’ previous know-how. In addition, students receive regular support from both study counselors and course teachers to plan and structure their studies.

At the team level, the teaching methods play a key role in supporting students. Due to distance learning arrangements, students may not be in the lessons at the same time and therefore the grouping of students is supported through, for example, pair work, group work, laboratory work, and various discussion forums. In addition, project work, company assignments and problem-based learning, which are a key part of the studies, guide students to support each other's studies, communicate with other experts and serve as members of development teams. These pedagogical choices also support the development of your working life skills. Those skills are vital because you likely will implement various ICT projects in development teams.

Internationalisation

This degree program is itself international and multicultural due to its multinational student body. You have also an opportunity to widen your international expertise by including INVEST specialization as a part of your degree. In addition, you can include to your degree program a period of study or internship from one of the Karelia’s partner universities.
One opportunity to learn more about other cultures is to take part in an international intensive week either in Joensuu or abroad.

Assessment

The assessment of learning is linked to your continuously developing professional skills and your growing as an ICT expert. The development of your professional competence is assessed in relation to the learned knowledge and the skills to apply that knowledge, as well as the ability to assess the wider effects of your own activities as an ICT specialist.

The assessment may use your self-assessment, peer review, and feedback from fellow students. The assessment also uses the feedback from working life. With the help of the assessment and the feedback you receive, you monitor the development of your skills and set new goals. Karelia has common assessment criteria, which are used to define assessment on a course-by-course basis.
Your competence is assessed in the courses mainly on a numerical scale 0-5. Some studies are also assessed on the pass / fail scale.

Career Opportunities

As ICT engineers, the program graduates have the competence to work on information and communication technology fields on computing. More specifically, students gain up-to-date know-how on intelligent automation and software development during their studies. In addition, they will have diverse project management skill and competences as an entrepreneur. This is noteworthy, because the development of information and communication technology constantly creates opportunities for the development of new business applications, integration and automation. Therefore, ICT engineers are employed in a wide range of jobs in a variety of industries, from large global organizations to small and medium-sized enterprises. The diversity of the ICT field, constant development of technology, and your own interests create different career opportunities.

Examples of the business opportunities include software robotics, Big data analytics, the Internet of Things, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and various virtual and augmented reality technologies (AR/VR), whose development demands diverse professional competences. Due to rapid digitalization there is a continuous need for new ICT solutions in business, industry, health and welfare services, and travel and free time services.

Continuous changes in working life and your own career development require continuous learning after graduation. A significant part of learning takes place in connection to work, but it can be made more effective through formal training. You can supplement your own skills with studies at the Open University of Applied Sciences or with a degree leading to a master's degree. Completing a master's degree opens up opportunities for, for example, managerial positions, demanding development positions or as a teacher. It is noteworthy, that after graduating from Karelia, you can apply for a master's degree studies in Computer Science at the University of Eastern Finland.

You get help for your career planning in the course focusing on professional growth and in the networking events with working life actors. Those events are separately announced during each academic year. In addition, the teacher tutor and study counselor will support you in your career planning throughout your studies. If you wish, you can also use Karelia's career services on the eve of graduation.