The modern approach in today's industry is that of Integrated Product Development (IPD), where all of the aspects of product function and design, of product materials and manufacturing, of product use and environmental impact, of product marketing and costing, and of entrepreneurship and business management are linked into a single discipline that is targeted towards optimizing overall performance and degree of success. For this purpose, the Faculty of Engineering in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy (FEMA) at the University of Malta, offers a Masters course in IPD. The course is built on the two fundamental pillars: Product and Process Engineering and Business. The course blends together these topics and even allows the candidate an element of specialization or focus in any one of these two pillars within the program itself.

You may opt to either follow a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) or a Masters degree in the topic of Integrated Product Development. The course is built on the two aforesaid pillars, or areas, that are essential for the achievement of success in the manufacturing industry. Participants benefit from taught study-units which characterise the first two years of the course. In each semester of these two years, students have three study-units, each worth 5ECTS. In the final year, you will have the opportunity to enhance and apply the knowledge and skills that they have gained in the first two years, in a project worth 30ECTS.

The first pillar is that of Product and Process Engineering, dealing with issues of product design, modelling, materials engineering, tooling, automation, quality and safety. This pillar also includes a number of elective study-units such as the one on micro and nano technology, which is an emerging area of major importance in modern high technology manufacturing and research. This pillar also deals with the planning, technical, and sustainability aspects of the production process.

The second pillar deals with the business element, and fortifies the course with the various essential business skills that are required for the achievement of success in the industry. This pillar also includes a number of elective study-units such as the one on technology entrepreneurship, in line with a major Government objective to encourage and facilitate entrepreneurial spirit in the manufacturing industry.