ACADEMIC PROGRAM

World-class academic institutions in science and technology provide an integrated approach to research and academic programs. The Masdar Institute offers a fully integrated research and educational program that will graduate individuals with a deep understanding of sustainable technologies and policies as well as expertise in their chosen fields.

Masdar Institute graduates will have a clear sense of society's needs from economic, political, technological, ecological, and institutional perspectives. Insights gained from these perspectives will help graduates to understand how their chosen technology field fits into an interdisciplinary context.

The Masdar Institute, with the assistance of MIT faculty, has developed rigorous research and academic programs.

For up-to-date information, visit: http://web.mit.edu/mit-mi-cp/index.html

Beginning in September 2009, five 24-month Master of Science programs are offered in:

*The MSc in Electrical Power Engineering and MSc in Microelectronic Devices and Circuits are programs which will commence in 2010 and another two are expected to be added in 2011. In addition, a PhD program is expected to commence in 2010.

The curriculum includes Program Core courses, courses specific to each program. Students take six Program Core courses to graduate. University Core courses are courses required by all programs. All students take Sustainable Energy and one of the following: Management for Engineers; Applications of Technology in Energy and the Environment;
Systems Dynamics for Business Policy to fulfill the University Core requirement.

Computing and Information Science Program Overview

Computing and Information Science (CIS) is the backbone of a modern technological society and the driving force of modern industries. It provides the data management, data analysis and computational capabilities required to solve the world’s most challenging problems in every domain. The mission of the CIS Program at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is to create CIS professionals who are familiar with the unique challenges and problems of sustainability and alternative energy and who can effectively bridge the gap between CIS and related engineering disciplines. Graduates of the CIS Program will have the range of skills necessary to take up either technical or managerial positions in industry, and be capable of conducting independent, cross-disciplinary research.

Academics

The CIS Program academic curriculum provides students from a variety of engineering and science backgrounds with a broad spectrum of CIS skills as well as exposure to the problems of global climate change and renewable energy. The courses offered range from subjects with a high level of technical and computational content to courses dealing with the managerial and organizational aspects of CIS. This mix of courses reflects the need for program graduates to be capable of filling both research and managerial/strategic roles in a variety of renewable and sustainable energy industries.

Research

Computing and Information Science research at Masdar provides leading-edge exploration of topics in IT management, software development, data management, data processing and other areas. The specific objectives of Masdar CIS research are:

  • Develop breakthroughs in computing and information science that are directly relevant to the themes of energy and sustainability
  • Promote cross-disciplinary and collaborative research within the Masdar Institute and with local industry in areas where CIS plays a supporting or enabling role
  • Establish international research collaborations that position the Masdar Institute and Abu Dhabi as world leaders in information technology and its application to energy and sustainability

The high-impact research conducted at Masdar will be at the forefront of the next wave of information technologies required to address global sustainability challenges.

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Electrical Power Engineering Program Overview

Electrical Power Engineering is an important and vital discipline for paving the way to widespread integration of renewable and sustainable technologies. The program will cover a broad range of activities and evolving issues that are of great importance in the field of sustainable and smart power systems. Electrical Power Engineering covers subjects related to integration of renewable energy to power systems, power electronics applications and experimental design, power system stability and control, dynamic systems, control and optimization techniques in power systems. The program has been designed to provide students with technical knowledge in the area of power systems in addition to mathematical tools that are necessary for developing new innovative solutions. The mission of the Electrical Power Engineering Program at Masdar Institute is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and professional experience necessary for successful careers in industrial or academic roles that involve alternative energy and sustainable technologies. Graduates of the Electrical Power Engineering Program at Masdar Institute will be able to work collaboratively, conduct independent and multidisciplinary research, communicate effectively and recognize their role in solving global challenges, while simultaneously promoting sustainable engineering principles.

Academics

The academic curriculum in the Electrical Power Engineering Program is designed to develop skills and understanding necessary to make significant contributions to electric power system design and development, development of power apparatus and systems, sustainable electric power systems, including sustainable generation, conservation and effective use of electric power. A broad and fairly classical grounding in Electrical Engineering at a high level is what is necessary to make contributions in these areas. The program’s core courses ensure that students develop a strong academic foundation through study of applied mathematical techniques, power electronics theory and laboratory application, and power systems operation with renewable energy technologies. The breadth of course offerings, however, will continually grow to allow Masdar students to gain deeper knowledge in topics of their choosing.

Research

Electrical Power Engineering research at Masdar Institute is aimed at providing major advancements in key areas of electrical design and operation of renewable energy systems and sustainable technology. Specific research topics include, but are not limited to, smart grids, modeling and control of inverters for renewable energy sources, innovative protection and control techniques in power systems and electric machine design. Examples of ongoing Electrical Power Engineering research activities at Masdar Institute are:

  • Smart grid control and protection
  • Impacts of renewable energy on Power systems.
  • Electricity market operation with stochastic sources
  • Demand side management
  • Renewable generation modeling
  • Power electronic converters for renewable energy sources

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Engineering Systems and Management Program Overview

Engineering Systems and Management is an interdisciplinary field that brings together experts in engineering, design, economics, management, and policy to teach and do research on large-scale complex systems. The mission of the Engineering Systems and Management Program (ESMP) is to create corporate and government leaders that can effectively deal with global energy and sustainability challenges that involve large scale systems. Program graduates will be trained in strategy, operations and systems thinking. As such, they will be ideally positioned to take leadership positions in the private or public sector and guide research and implementation of alternative energy technologies and policies.

Academics

The ESMP academic curriculum provides students from a variety of engineering and science backgrounds with the tools and knowledge essential to engineering management and sustainable development at the strategic and tactical levels. Specifically, students are trained in topics such as system architecture, system optimization, system dynamics, project management, product design and development and technology strategy. The underlying emphasis is sustainability from both the macro (international/national) and micro (organizational) perspectives.

Research

ESMP research is aimed at addressing the most urgent sustainability issues faced by public sector agencies, private sector firms, and international organizations and NGOs.  As such, collaboration with private and governmental agencies as well as other educational institutions (local, regional, and international) is a critical aspect of ESMP research.

ESMP students will be exposed to every aspect of research; from initial conception to final proposal writing. Research topics aim to address the most pressing real-world needs that surround the strategic deployment of alternative energy technologies on a regional or global scale.

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Materials Science and Engineering Program Overview

Materials Science and Engineering is an important and evolving discipline that involves synthesis, characterization, processing and fabrication of advanced materials and their applications. It encompasses the spectrum of materials: metals, polymers, ceramics, semiconductors, composites and biomaterials.

As the need for lighter, smaller and smarter materials and devices grows, significant advancement in technology is increasingly relying on materials scientists and engineers to design and develop new materials and devices, powerful characterization techniques and novel processing and fabrication technologies. The mission of the Materials Science and Engineering Program is to provide a regional and global center of excellence for materials education and research that promotes the outstanding graduate education and research needed to achieve the next generation of engineering advancements. The program provides students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and training necessary for successful careers in industrial or academic roles that are focused on alternative energy and sustainable technologies. Graduates of the Materials Science and Engineering Program will be well prepared to work collaboratively, conduct independent and multidisciplinary research, communicate effectively and recognize their role in solving global challenges, while promoting sustainable engineering practices.

Academics

The academic curriculum in the Materials Science and Engineering Program is designed to provide students with fundamental knowledge and rigorous academic training in designing, testing, modeling and processing advanced materials for renewable energy and sustainable technologies. The program’s core courses ensure that students develop a strong academic foundation through study of applied mathematical and numerical tools, materials science and engineering principles, mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic and other functional properties of advanced materials, and novel and sustainable materials processing and manufacturing technologies. The breadth of course offerings will continually grow to allow Masdar students to gain deeper knowledge in topics of their choosing.

Research

Materials science and engineering research at Masdar concentrates on designing, engineering, characterizing, processing and fabricating the next generation of materials that will be required for advancing the development of alternative energy and sustainable technologies. Research involves theoretical, experimental and numerical aspects and involves fundamental materials research in thin films, photovoltaic materials, thermoelectric materials, polymers, lightweight alloys, functional materials as well as advanced characterization, testing, processing and fabricating methods. The relationship between the fabrication and processing conditions, the resulting materials properties and the ultimate device and/or applications, will be emphasized.

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Mechanical Engineering Program Overview

Mechanical Engineering is a broad engineering discipline with a range of activities and functions that touch almost every aspect of technology. Mechanical Engineering covers subjects related to energy, fluid mechanics and dynamics, solid mechanics, heat transfer, and design and manufacturing. This diverse background uniquely positions mechanical engineers to help define the future of technology and play a critical role in solving global energy and sustainability challenges. The Mechanical Engineering graduate program at Masdar aspires to become renowned for outstanding graduate education and research that is at the forefront of engineering advancements. Its mission is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and professional experience necessary for successful careers in industrial or academic roles that involve alternative energy and sustainable technologies. Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering Program will be able to work collaboratively, conduct independent and multidisciplinary research, communicate effectively and recognize their role in solving global challenges, while simultaneously promoting sustainable engineering principles.

Academics

The academic curriculum in the Mechanical Engineering Program is designed to provide students with fundamental and advanced training in engineering principles that relate to renewable energy and sustainable technologies. The program’s core courses initially focus on energy and thermo-fluids engineering by covering topics in advanced thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, advanced energy conversion, nano and micro-scale transport phenomena and combustion. The breadth of course offerings, however, will continually grow to allow Masdar students to gain deeper knowledge in topics of their choosing.

Research

Mechanical Engineering research at Masdar is aimed at providing major advancements in key areas of renewable energy and sustainable technology. Specific research topics include, but are not limited to, thermo-fluid sciences and include advanced computational methods, hydrodynamics, solid/fluid interactions, sustainable heating and cooling, power systems, materials and devices for renewable energy, waste to energy conversion and design for sustainability.

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Microelectronic Devices and Circuits Program Overview

Microelectronic devices and circuits are the fundamental building blocks in the huge array of communication and information technologies that have changed our world, and that are enabling current and future transformations in energy, embedded systems, medical electronics, and large scale systems. In order to drive research, development, and commercialization of future systems, engineers are needed that understand both the underlying semiconductor device and fabrication technology, and the application of these devices in the design of integrated circuits and systems. The mission of the Microelectronic Devices and Circuits Program at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is to create a regional and global center of excellence for microelectronics that drives exciting and leading edge research and education in both existing and new directions. These directions range from state of the art IC fabrication and foundry technology, to novel device concepts providing new capabilities, to circuits and systems bringing new functionality and capability for critical industrial and global needs including energy and medical technologies. The program provides students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and training necessary for successful careers in industrial or academic roles that build upon and extend semiconductor device and integrated circuit technology. Graduates of the Microelectronic Devices and Circuits Program will be well prepared to work collaboratively, conduct independent and multidisciplinary research, communicate effectively and recognize their role in solving global challenges through the development of new technologies and applications.

Academics

Microelectronic Devices and Circuits research at Masdar Institute explores semiconductor devices and fabrication technologies, and the creation of new electronic and photonic circuits and systems concepts. This will provide a means to meet the need for continued performance and manufacturing breakthroughs underlying communication and information systems. In devices and processes, research involves design and analysis of novel structures for switching – extending the scaling of devices into the nanoscale, and the development of materials processing and fabrication integration approaches to bring these devices to commercial application, including the integration of photonic and electronic elements. Alternative devices for power conversion, communication, sensing, actuation, and new functionalities will be explored. In circuits and systems, novel architectures are investigated for digital, analog, and mixed signal processing of information, and for sensing and interacting with the human as well as physical environment. Key areas of circuit research involve alternative analog architectures, and ultralow-power digital circuits for embedded applications.

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Water and Environment Program Overview

One clear measure of society’s progress towards achieving sustainable development is whether or not individuals and communities have sufficient and equitable access to clean water.  Provision of this resource, which is essential for everything from sustaining life to enabling modern industrial development, is tightly intertwined with the health and integrity of the natural environment.  The interdependence of water and environment is evident at multiple levels; from the impact of local watershed management on the quality and quantity of a water resource, to the influence of climate change on precipitation patterns on a regional and global scale.

In many parts of the world, water demand is increasing rapidly while supplies remain limited or are being depleted.  Competition for access to water can be intense. There is a significant need for novel management strategies and technological innovation in water supply, distribution, end-use, and treatment. This is a complex and challenging problem that requires an understanding of the natural systems that regulate water quality and supply, the physical infrastructure that collects, distributes, uses, treats and releases water back into the environment, and finally the policies, regulations, and societal norms that influence choices in water use.

The Water and Environment Program at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges behind one of the foundations of sustainable development - ensuring sufficient and equitable access to clean water.  Through their coursework, students acquire technical and analytical skills relevant for analyzing natural systems as well as water-based technologies.  Equally important, students will develop specialized expertise in a particular aspect of this field by developing their own individualized research project.  Multi-disciplinary research is strongly encouraged and supported at Masdar, enabling students a unique opportunity to collaborate with faculty from across the university.

Academics

The academic curriculum in the Water and Environment Program provides students with a range of knowledge and skills of high relevance for sustainability-driven decision-makers and environmental managers.  Environmental science and engineering form an important foundation, with a variety of topics including the modeling and analysis of hydrological systems, atmospheric physics and chemistry, climate modeling, pollution transport, and the impact of environmental pollution on human health.  Specialized course topics in water supply and desalination technologies are also offered.  The crucial importance of policy and economics in promoting sustainable development is covered with an emphasis on using scientific and engineering analysis to devise innovative environmental policies.  Finally, students receive training in and exposure to systems-based analytical methods such as life cycle analysis and system dynamics modeling, which provide significant insight into complex problems that span across the domains of technology, environment and society.

Research

Research at Masdar Institute is strongly multi-disciplinary and the Water and Environment Program is no exception.  Faculty, students and research staff have the opportunity to collaborate on topics such as advanced desalination technology, high-efficiency water distribution and use, integrated water and energy policy and many other topics.

In Abu Dhabi and the surrounding region, strategies for securing sustainable supplies of fresh water and efficient water delivery and use are critical factors for enabling the region’s development.  In the UAE, water and energy supply are tightly interlinked due to the predominance of desalination as the primary supply option.  Work in this area, with the potential of using alternative energy technologies for supplying freshwater is an exciting area of current research.

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For more details on the Masdar curriculum, course descriptions, admissions, and financial aid, visit: http://www.masdar.ac.ae

© 2009 MIT Technology and Development Program