Study Guide

Descriptions

CURRICULUM
Bachelor of Engineering (UAS), Civil Engineering, daytime implementation

Studying civil engineering gives you the skills to work in the field of building construction. You will learn about the design of structures and buildings, building production and, increasingly, the maintenance and life-cycle management of buildings. A special feature of the Karelia UAS construction engineering education is the focus on wood and low-carbon construction. With this knowledge, you can con-tribute to the promotion of sustainable development in the construction sector.

The qualification to be obtained

Title Engineer, Bachelor of Engineering (UAS)
Extent 240 credits /4 years

Description of competences

The competence objectives for construction engineering education largely follow the national con-tent recommendations for the construction sector, which have been developed in cooperation with the higher education institutions providing the education. In addition, the curriculum is determined by the strategy of Karelia UAS and the competence objectives of the individual higher education institutions. The specific objective of the training is the national promotion of competences in wood and low-carbon construction. The competences aimed at by the qualifications are described below as common to all qualifications and specific to each education.
Upon completion of the qualification, you will be able to work in various expert and managerial positions in construction projects and the construction products industry. After sufficient work experience, you can work as a supervisor, structural engineer, builder or technical expert for a wide range of employers.
The education of a civil engineer includes the studies required by the qualification requirements of the Land Use and Building Act up to the demanding category of both management and structural design.

Building competences and the content of training

Your qualification consists of a set of core and complementary competences that are relevant to the world of work. You will have 225 credits of core competences and 15 credits of complementary competences. Your core studies include 30 credits of work placement and a 15-credit thesis. You can also include in your complementary studies coaching for competitive and elite athletes or student community and tutor activities.

You can choose to focus your studies on design or production. During the first and second semesters, you will acquire the basic skills needed to work as a civil engineer and the skills needed for advanced studies. In the first year, you will learn about building materials and the most common structural solutions in building construction. In the second year, you will study the basics of structural design and building production. In the third year, you can deepen your knowledge in either structural design or building production through optional studies. In the fourth year, you will demonstrate your knowledge through applied project studies and a thesis. You can complete a supervised internship during the summer semester or during a designated period during your studies. Some of your studies can be carried out in cooperation with students in building services engineering.

Work-based learning

The representatives of working life have been involved in the design of the qualification's competences. The courses have been grouped into work-based units of competences. During the courses, you will complete work-related and topical exercises that will help you to achieve good workplace skills. You will use information systems and applications that are also used by companies in the region. The theses for engineering studies are commissioned by the working world. You will develop your working life skills through supervised work placements in companies.

Working life cooperation also allows you to influence working life practices and skills renewal. The active project activities in construction technology offer you interesting learning tasks and theses that can be used to reform working life practices.

Pedagogical choices

In building technology education, the emphasis is on learning by doing. Each module is accompanied by work-based learning tasks. On the other hand, it emphasises experiential learning, relying on your ability to relate what you have learned to your own experience, to critically evaluate your own actions and to conceptualise and create new approaches to problem-solving in your profession.

Flexible implementation of studies

At the start of your studies, you will draw up a personal study plan (HOPS), in which you will set your own learning objectives, the way you will complete your studies and the timetable. You will have the opportunity to have any prior learning you have acquired elsewhere recognised as part of your degree.

The studies are grouped into thematic modules, which consist of modules to be assessed.
Flexible delivery of studies refers primarily to the optional delivery methods set out in the study path-ways, which allow you to acquire and demonstrate the required competences for a course of study. Some of the studies can be completed online. These include a number of common complementary courses in building and construction technology and courses offered by other higher education institutions in the national offer of other higher education institutions.

Internationalisation

In the degree programme, internationalisation is achieved through student exchange programmes. You have the opportunity to go abroad for studies or an internship. The studies you undertake on an international exchange are usually included in your complementary studies. The programme offers studies in English for international exchange students for one semester of study.

The programme also has active RDI cooperation with European partner universities. These collaborative projects also provide opportunities for students to get involved in multidisciplinary international teams. In particular, the different intensive programmes are an excellent way for students to start their own internationalisation.

Skills assessment

The aim of the skills assessment is to demonstrate to yourself and your future employers the skills you have achieved. The competence requirements are derived from the competence needs of the world of work. In engineering education, competences are assessed through work-based exercises, laboratory exercises, written and oral exams, reports and learning tasks. Assessment will be based on your self-assessment and peer assessment and feedback from your fellow students. Assessment feed-back helps you to monitor your progress and set new learning objectives. Karelia has common assessment criteria, which define the implementation and criteria for assessment for each course.

Career opportunities and guidance

Upon graduation, you will typically be employed in the private or public sector in a specialist position. As you gain work experience, you may progress to a position such as a project manager, where you will be responsible for project teams. In production roles, you can progress to a position as a supervisor, project engineer, project engineer or construction manager. Your studies will include professional growth and career guidance studies to support you in orienting your skills. Traineeships and, usually, a work placement, will support your work readiness and career planning.

Changes in the world of work and your own career development require continuous learning after graduation. Much of this learning takes place on the job, but can be enhanced through training. You can supplement your skills with open university of applied sciences studies or training towards a higher university of applied sciences degree. A Master's degree opens up opportunities for you to take on managerial positions, demanding expert and development tasks or to become a teacher. You will be supported by a tutor and a study adviser throughout your studies to help you plan your career.