The Australian industry faces a growing demand for interdisciplinary professionals who combine classical engineering methods with data-driven competencies. Despite the increasing industrial level in Sydney, there is currently no master’s program in Industrial Engineering that is practice-oriented and internationally aligned. Existing programs neither integrate production system design, work organization, production planning and control with modern Industry 4.0 methods, artificial intelligence, and industrial data analytics, nor do they adequately address the requirements of global labour markets.

Against this background, the project addresses this gap in labour-market-oriented education through the conceptual development of a transnational master’s programme, “Industrial Engineering – Technical Operations Management”, at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in cooperation with TU Dortmund.

The aim of this pre-project is to establish the conceptual and organisational foundations for an internationally competitive, practice-oriented master’s programme. Building on the master’s programmes in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Manufacturing Technology (MMT) at TU Dortmund, classical engineering methods will be combined with forward-looking aspects of Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, and industrial data analytics. The preparatory phase focuses on practical relevance, international alignment, and labour market orientation of the programme.

Within this phase, innovative teaching formats with digital components, on-campus sessions at TU Dortmund, and practice-oriented elements such as industry internships or dual projects are being developed. Legal frameworks, accreditation requirements, module and curriculum specifications, as well as cooperation structures between UTS, TU Dortmund, and industry partners, are being aligned. The outcomes provide the basis for the main phase, during which the programme will be implemented, piloted, and permanently integrated into the institutional structures of both universities. In the long term, the programme aims to prepare students in a practice-oriented manner, equip them for professional roles in German and Australian industry, and ensure sustainable cooperation with industry partners as well as continuous academic support.

The preparatory phase lays the foundation for a cooperative German-Australian master’s programme and includes the following core activities:

• Needs Analysis: Conducting quantitative and qualitative surveys on student demand and labour market requirements in Australia and Germany.
• Cooperation Development: Consolidation of collaboration structures between TU Dortmund, UTS, and relevant industry partners.
• Module and Curriculum Planning: Systematic development of study modules, learning outcomes, and accreditation and examination requirements.
• Study and Support Concept: Developing application and admission procedures, recognition rules, mobility windows, and an alumni and industry partner system.
• Visibility Strategy: International positioning of the programme and engagement of additional industry partners.
• Final Workshop: Bilateral workshop for evaluation, lessons learned, and planning of the main phase.

Transition to the Main Phase:
The results of the preparatory phase provide the foundation for the main phase, during which the agreed curriculum will be implemented, cooperation with industry partners established, student recruitment initiated, and the programme continuously evaluated and refined.

This project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).