Materials Science Ma(s)ters - developing a new master's degree program

Today's world is facing dynamic technological transformations, as well as challenges of climate change and sustainable development, that require continuous development of STEM. Key industries seek material solutions that combine innovation, functionality, and sustainability principles. Traditional educational systems often fail to keep up with the pace of technological change, creating a significant gap between the academic level of education and the demands of the job market. Internationalization, enrichment of the educational offer by expanding the scope of curriculum, as well as improving the competences and skills of teaching staff are now an integral part of any university’s strategy and one of the challenges of education in all project partner countries. In recent years, increasing emphasis in HE has been placed on teaching transversal skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, mathematical reasoning, and digitaI competencies. In response to it, a consortium of four universities has initiated the Materials Science Ma(s)ters project, an international initiative focused on sharing best practices and intensifying international cooperation as key elements in improving the quality of higher education.

The project focused on improving the quality of education by developing an advanced, interdisciplinary master’s program in materials engineering, including a universal methodology, best practices in materials science education, as well as guidelines for teaching staff and academic instructors. Its objective was to gain insight into the students' needs and expectations of potential employers in the European market, thereby enhancing the job prospects for their future graduates, to establish a teaching framework that fosters the development of students capable of independently identifying and addressing challenges in Materials Science and Engineering. Specific objectives included: - increasing the knowledge of at least 200 academic teachers about the directions of didactics development in materials science; - increasing the teaching competences of 20 academic teachers, participants of short training programs; - adjusting the Master's degree program to the needs of the labor market by analyzing the needs of employers; - increasing innovation and internationalization of the institutions involved (4) through the exchange of good practices, joint development of the study program and teaching materials in the form of blended learning

IO1 THE MARKET AND SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT NEEDS ANALYSIS results: - 1 MARKET AND SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT NEEDS ANALYSIS report on current needs in the labor market and expectations of employers regarding necessary competences of potential job candidates and current state of education in material engineering according to students, based on developed and conducted surveys; - 1 REPORT ON INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 1 THE MARKET AND SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT NEEDS ANALYSIS with conclusions and recommendations from the analysis of market and student needs and academic teachers' recommendations; - 1 REPORT FROM THE SEMINAR NEEDS AND BARRIERS IN DIDACTICS OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING; - 1 network of contacts between HEIs and businesses at European level. IO2 DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE STUDY PROGRAM results: - 1 Four-semester master's degree program, including detailed information about the program structure, learning outcomes, thematic blocks, teaching methods, and study organization, outlines requirements related to ECTS credits, internships, the master’s thesis, and the graduation process. Developed using the University of Silesia in Katowice's electronic system as an example of good practice; - 1 comprehensive list of modules developed by each university within the Materials Science Ma(s)ters project; - 81 modules developed in the form of syllabuses for courses of the program that provide essential information for both educators and students, including, among others: course titles and codes, course descriptions, learning outcomes, course objectives, prerequisites, teaching methods, recommended reading materials, course content for lectures and laboratory sessions, and assessment methods and grading policies; - 81 Teacher Guides corresponding to each of the developed syllabuses, designed to support and assist instructors in delivering both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, ensuring students receive a comprehensive and well-rounded educational experience in materials science; - 4 blended learning modules, 1 module consisting of 10 e-lessons. As part of the pilot implementation, BLM lessons “Materials Testing and Characterization” were integrated into the Moodle platform, incl. additional multimedia resources (50 video tutorials) and PDF instructions; – 1 Study Plan Generator, an application that allows for the planning and organizing of study programs in the new international master's degree in materials science with multilingual descriptions. IO3 DEVELOPMENT OF THE METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY PROGRAM results: - 4 training programs - study visits - 1 STUDY VISITS IN THE MATERIALS SCIENCE MA(S)TERS PROJECT. PRACTICAL GUIDE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS - a guide for study visits conducted within the Materials Science Ma(s)ters – developing a new master’s degree project - 1 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS from Conference on Good Practices in Materials Engineering Didactics. - 1 IO3 FROM CONCEPT TO IMPLEMENTATION A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE MATERIALS SCIENCE MASTERS PROGRAMME including methodology of the program. Additional materials as an attachment : • 1 Writing, Revising, and Refining Course Learning Outcomes, supporting educators in developing clear and measurable course learning outcomes and providing practical guidance on how to effectively write, revise, and refine learning outcomes to ensure they are aligned with the course goals, content, and assessment methods - 3 more additional workshop materials to support teachers: • Assessment Quiz On The Moodle Platform - a guide intended for individuals who already possess a basic understanding of using the Moodle platform, including the ability to set up courses and add educational resources and activities. The purpose of this document is to demonstrate how to create a quiz on Moodle in a straightforward yet creative manner, • Mastering Moodle – Enhancing Online Learning with Essential Resources and Activities that provides comprehensive guidance for educators on effectively using the Moodle platform to enhance online learning • Using Moodle Forums – Practical Guide - provides a comprehensive resource for teachers, focusing on the effective use of forums in the Moodle platform. Also: - 4 Multiplier Events - 6 Transnational Project Meetings - 1 project website - over 100 news items published on the website during the project