From apprentice to master of science in engineering - an educational experiment

As a consequence of the Bologna Process Danish higher educational system has fully
adopted the 3+2 system. Access to Master of Science programmes is now granted to
either Bachelor of Science or Professional Bachelor degree holders. The latter is
known for admitting people with vocational qualifications. Hence, it is now possible
for a person to go through apprenticeship, and later entering an Architectural
Technology and Construction Management education, and finally, ending with a
Master of science degree. Now in its fourth year of allowing MSc students with such
background, it is possible to share some of the collected experience. So far it has been
a success, but there have been hurdles. Students with vocational background
combined with a professional bachelor degree are different from students with a
Bachelor of Science background. This applies to the areas of among others:
Mathematical skills and practical knowledge. The main success is that candidates
have entered the job market with high success. Data has been collected through
interviews and surveys with graduates, teachers and coordinators within the new
master programme in construction management at Aalborg University in Denmark.
This exercise has given insight what distinguishes traditional Master of sciences
graduates and these new graduates.