Degree Programme in Automobile and Transport Engineering, Students with Vocational School Background: Intelligent Moving Industrial Vehicles

Description

Bachelor of Engineering, Degree Programme in Automobile and Transportation Engineering
Vocational qualification based, 240 cr

Applicability: See TAMK www-pages and applicability for Bachelor’s degree programmes www.tamk.fi

The construction and maintenance of vehicles and mobile off-road vehicles as well as the transportation of people and goods are a significant trade in Finland, where the distances are long. The Pirkanmaa region is the most important centre of production and maintenance of mobile off-road vehicles, vehicles and their body structures. The degree programme teaches the students the skills required in the production technology, design, product development, after-sales services, production, maintenance and inspection of vehicles and mobile off-road vehicles.

The Bachelors of Engineering from the Degree Programme in Automobile and Transportation Engineering work in design, product development, manufacturing, managing and after-sales service tasks of vehicles and mobile off-road vehicles, as well as inspectors, car store managers and vocational school teachers. Some also find employment in technology and business and as entrepreneurs.

The focus areas of vehicle and off-road vehicle industries are sustainable development, ecology, accessible and safe transportation of people and goods, of which public transportation forms in important part. Vehicles and mobile off-road vehicles significantly facilitate people and free their time for tasks requiring more thinking.

In addition to classroom education, the students’ skills are improved through measurement and research tasks carried out in automobile and off-road vehicle laboratories, various assignments, product development projects carried out in collaboration with companies, the third year practical training carried out in companies and summer practical training periods. During their last year of studies, the students carry out the Bachelor’s thesis work, which consists of research or development task done to a company, through which the students display their expertise.


During the first two years, the students study the basics of natural sciences: mathematics and physics, basic studies in automobile engineering, machine parts, strength of materials, computer assisted design and languages. The students learn practical skills in automobile laboratories, welding, machining and machine automation laboratories as well as in product analysis.

The professional studies begin in the spring of the students’ second year of studies, and continue for the third and fourth year with the following goals:

The students of automobile and garage engineering know the product technology of vehicles and mobile off-road vehicles, the business functions and core processes of the garage and know the tasks of the after-sales service advisor. The students are oriented to customer service, sales and marketing, and can also carry out the annual inspections for private automobiles.

The students of automobile and off-road vehicle engineering know the product technology of vehicles and their body structures, as well as of the movable off-road vehicles. The students are also able to design and model parts and structures of vehicles and off-road vehicles by using CAD software, as well as to carry out computer assisted strength calculations and flow analysis for air resistance in automobiles.

The students of automobile and off-road vehicle engineering may also specialise in the design and product development of movable intelligent off-road vehicles. In such case, the students must select studies from the joint specialisation option of “intelligent machines.” The learning goals are: the students know the production technologies of mobile off-road vehicles, electrical systems, bus techniques, remote control systems of off-road vehicles, electrical and hybrid uses.

After the first year of studies, the students typically find practical training placements in garages and manufacturing companies of automobile and off-road vehicles. The students practice product technology, as well as maintenance and repair tasks. The practical training aims to get more difficult as the studies progress, and after the second year of studies, it focuses on product technology and after-sales services. The practical training taking place after the third year of studies focuses more generally on the operations of companies, as well as the tasks of a service advisor, manager and designer.