RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau
Distance and Independent Studies Center

Master in Software Engineering for Embedded Systems (Master of Engineering)

The program is offered in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering.

Representatives of industry have expressed a great demand for a part-time training program to re-train the existing professional engineering work force in software engineering. Therefore, the DISC has developed a high-quality part-time distance program in "Software Engineering for Embedded Systems". The program imparts theoretical scientific background knowledge as well as practical methods, techniques, and tools that equip the engineer to deal with software development for embedded systems issues:

* The program represents the state-of-the-art in software engineering for embedded systems. * It has been developed by international top experts in the SE domain, who are high-ranking researchers and are recognized in industry because of their extensive practical experiences.

High Demand for Software Engineering Practitioners

Today, traditionally hardware-dominated product domains are increasingly turning into software-dominated ones. Many of the companies and organizations in these transitional domains still employ mostly traditional engineers without a profound education and training in software and software engineering.

Software engineering focuses on:
* the specification of system structure and behavior,
* the implementation of these specifications,
* the activities required in order to assure that the specifications have been met,
* the development of such systems over space (distributed development, subcontracting) and time evolution, maintenance.

The increasing complexity of software, the rising demand for secure and high quality software in embedded systems, and the constant change and development of new software engineering methods, techniques, and tools make it necessary that engineers in the embedded systems domain (e.g., automotive, medical and military) receive additional education in software engineering.

Participating institutions

The program is being planned by the Distance and Independent Studies Center (DISC) of the RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau and Fraunhofer IESE. The program is organized and run by DISC. This section provides more detailed information on these institutions.

The university is home to about 14,600 students. Its focus on technical and science education is underlined by a strong cluster of affiliated research institutes in an adjacent science park. The university reflects a special profile and orientation towards applied research, which is emphasized by a number of highly prestigious centers of excellence and well established cooperation with international and German industries. Its highly qualified and motivated faculty attracts talented students from all over the world, which creates an international and multi-cultural teaching and research environment. The university has an inviting modern campus located in the Palatine Forest (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve). Kaiserslautern is famous for its soccer team “Red Devils” and was selected as one of the official venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The city’s unique mixture of high tech and unspoiled nature, history and modernity makes for an international but still typical traditional German city. The Computer Science Department is very active in research and education. There are currently 24 groups covering the entire spectrum of research topics, focusing particularly on:

>> Information and Communication Systems
>> System and Software Engineering
>> Knowledge-based and Multimedia Systems.

Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE)

Fraunhofer IESE in Kaiserslautern currently has 200 employees who perform research in the areas of software development, software quality management, and software competence management. Together with its sister institute in the USA, Fraunhofer IESE offers processes, methods, and techniques for developing software-based systems according to engineering-style principles. In doing so, it follows an empirical approach: Through proven, innovative solutions, products based on software can be brought to the market with a measurably higher degree of efficiency.

The customers of Fraunhofer IESE come from domains where products are dominated by software: automotive and transportation systems, telecommunications, telematics and service providers, medical systems, as well as information systems and applications in the public sector. The institute provides support to companies of any size – from international corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises. The public sector also plays an important role as a project partner.

Fraunhofer IESE, founded in 1996, is directed by Prof. Peter Liggesmeyer and Prof. Dieter.

It is one of 67 institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which, as the largest applied research organization in Europe, contributes to national and international competitiveness. Since the founding of the institute, a close relationship between Fraunhofer IESE and the RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau has existed in both academia and research. As assistant lecturers, employees of the institute contribute to the high level of practice-oriented education in the Department of Computer Science. The area of Software Engineering, represented until recently by the working group of Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Rombach, was further expanded with the new working group “Software Engineering: Dependability” led by Prof. Dr. Peter Liggesmeyer. In joint projects with third-party funds, the basic research of the Department of Computer Science and the applied research of Fraunhofer IESE complement each other ideally.

Fraunhofer Academy

In 2005 the Fraunhofer Academy was established as a central unit to support Fraunhofer institutes in offering advanced training programs. With our range of training and development courses, we seek to contribute to the creation of a new innovation culture in Germany and Europe. Especially in service online Master programs like IESE‘s “Software Engineering for Embedded Systems” are perfectly suited to create new opportunities for software professionals. In cooperation with our partner DISC, we will try to provide a program that provides best-in-class theoretical and practical aspects of software engineering.

Other Programmes offered by RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau

• Master in Software Engineering for Embedded Systems (Master of Engineering)


• Master (Blended Learning) of Evaluation MABLE

Distance and Independent Studies Center (DISC) RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau

The Distance and Independent Studies Center is one of the RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau ‘s key scientific institutions. Its tasks comprise the initiation and development of further qualifications for university graduates who have already obtained an initial professional qualification. The range of measures that are offered in collaboration with the University’s departments and subject areas comprise program, program sequences, and study programs of varying lengths. One of the Center’s key focal points is the provision of distance learning programs, which can be taken on a part-time basis while pursuing a career. Around 4,000 students are currently enrolled in the distance learning programs of Adult Education, Human Resource Management, School Management, Systemic Management, Organizational Development, Systemic Consulting, Management of Health and Social Institutions, Management of Cultural and Non-Profit Organizations, Economy and Management, Commercial Law for Business Practice, Tax Law for Business Operations, Sustainable Development Cooperation, Software Engineering for Embedded Systems, Medical Physics, Medical Physics and Technology, Structural Fire Protection/ Safety Engineering, Child Psychology: Learning and Learning Disabilities, Nanotechnology and Nanobiotechnology.

RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau

The University of Kaiserslautern-Landau is a future-oriented university. It is characterized by a lively inter-site cooperation.

At RPTU, more than 290 professors conduct research with their teams: By networking our research expertise, we address the complex and major challenges of our time such as climate change, digitalization and societal transformation. In our research profile, we have defined focal points and formulated common goals.

nnovative teaching, research practice in the course of studies and a range of courses that imparts competencies for the challenges of tomorrow - this is what distinguishes studies and teaching at RPTU. In more than 160 study programs, RPTU students develop into subject specialists, founders and excellent researchers.