PART-TIME ENGINEERING MASTER PROGRAMS UTILIZE JOB ASSIGNMENTS OR PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGES AS MEANS OF LEARNING

On the job learning, work based learning, problem based learning, phenomenon-based learning, learning on demand and many other approaches have been introduced in connection with higher education. How can we apply this knowledge within a continuing education and lifelong learning context which leads to academic degrees? This paper describes part-time Master programs with a curriculum that allows adult learners to bring work challenges or assignments into their Master's studies.

Adult learners, such as engineers working at companies or governmental agencies, have already gained a wealth of practical experience that can be expanded and aspire to learn more to contribute to the innovation capacity of the organisation at which they work. For the university, the flow of academic expertise gained from research is accelerated into practical application. With these continuing educational programs, they are satisfying their knowledge valorisation efforts and are ensuring access to resources and real- life cases. The main benefits for companies are a head start on fellow companies, motivated and sustainable deployable employees [1] and a structural link with a research community.