CURRICULUM DESIGN CONSIDERING INDUSTRY 4.0 AND DIGITALISATION - BUZZWORDS OR NECESSITY?

Having successfully implemented the new Master's Programme "Technical Documentation" at the renowned University of Applied Sciences, FH JOANNEUM Graz in Austria as Head of the Programme, after having already faced the challenges of a postgraduate, part-time programme including e-learning methodology, I decided to change the curriculum after only one year. How come? Never change a running or newborn system? In times of Industry 4.0 and Digitalisation a Technical Writer does not only have to deal with analogue media such as paper and pencil or uses the digital equivalents like word processing programmes on the computer. On the contrary, professionals are nowadays confronted with the necessity of using digital media in any respect, ranging from technical drawings to 3d animation, from sound and video production to augmented/virtual/mixed realities, from databases to XML-based editorial systems, from responsive web and app design to usability being applicable to all media formats. And not to forget the essential subjects such as the legal basics which have to be included in the curriculum as well, as in our times the number of - mostly successful - claims against companies when the Technical Documentation is faulty or even missing, has risen significantly and is actually legally correct. These and many more were the topics to be included in a very tightly framed curriculum - the adult students, who are working part-time, are to receive their Master's Degree after only three semesters, of which in their third semester only 45 units are taught, the rest of the time is dedicated to writing their Master's Thesis. Challenge was up! But the result has proven that the radical change of the curriculum was necessary! In my talk I will not only give an overview of the curriculum changes but also of the receptions of nationally and internationally leading companies, who are sending their employees as part-time students.