• Features favouring interdisciplinarity :
The training of the Master's in electrical engineering touches upon fields such as computing, nanotechnology, control theory, information and communication technology. 15 credits of compulsory courses in the core curriculum are devoted to computing, applied mathematics and control theory (the latter already appears in the Bachelor’s curriculum for students majoring in electricity). As regards elective courses, the diploma committee encourages students to broaden their training by choosing courses offered by other departments. This explains why most options include courses with MAPR, INGI, INMA, or MATH acronyms. Moreover, a dozen ELEC courses are accessible to students of other Master’s, as long as they have taken the introductory course on electrical and electronic circuits or that of advanced topics in electricity.
• Variety of teaching situations:
The training is based on a policy of active learning which combines, theory, tutorials, laboratory work and projects. One feature is an interdisciplinary project which allows students to design, model, create and test a system which requires a wide spectrum of specialized knowledge and adds to the project-based approach which is already present in the ELEC Bachelor’s major and minor. It should also be noted that the proposed final projects often aim to integrate students into the department’s research teams. Consequently, the teaching activities are fed by research activities, which become a breeding-ground for hiring future researchers (a final project often becomes a starting point for a Ph.D. or leads to a scientific paper or a conference presentation). Depending on the case, students will be required to produce group or individual efforts.
• Variety of learning situations:
The variety of learning situations is based on the synergies between formal lectures, tutorials and projects via a classical engineering sequence, viz. : modelling – simulation – creation – experimental validation. Depending on the case, students will be required to produce group or individual efforts. For some subjects, e-learning will allow students to progress at their own pace and perform virtual experiments. This variety of situations helps students build their knowledge in an iterative and progressive manner, while developing their autonomy, and their organizational, time management and communication skills. The most advanced computing tools (hardware, software, networks) are at their disposal. The option in company launching is based on an interactive approach emphasizing "problem-based" learning. Throughout the programme, students of this option are asked to perform group work in multidisciplinary teams. Their final project is designed to be multidisciplinary so as to allow groups of three students, ideally from different faculties, to work on a company launching project .
All learning activities are assessed as prescribed by the University internal regulations (see exam regulations), viz. written and oral exams, laboratory exams, individual or group work, public presentation of projects and final thesis.
