Overview

The MSc in Strategic Product Design Programme is being offered by the School of Science & Technology of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University. The programme aims to provide innovative education at postgraduate level with an interdisciplinary approach as regards the design, development, management and production of products of every scale in the context of modern production and distribution technologies as well as modern forms of administration. The Programme is targeted towards graduates including professionals who wish to broaden their knowledge in the following fields:
  1. Product and Services Management,
  2. Product Creativity and Design and
  3. Industrial Design and Innovation.
The most important factor for the development of innovative industrial and technological products is the existence of high-level human resources with the appropriate knowledge and skills. In this context, it is of particular importance to increase the opportunities for education and training by enhancing knowledge, skills and qualifications in order to increase employment opportunities for the people involved in the innovation and manufacturing industry and in the management and supply of high quality products. The International Hellenic University MSc in Strategic Product Design programme offers to postgraduate students a thorough understanding of theory and practice in the areas of product design. The programme provides to graduates, from various disciplines, with a key set of skills, hands-on experience on advanced software along with state-of-the-art 3D equipment and management of operations knowledge for real world projects , which are crucial to achieve success in their chosen career. In particular, the MSc invests in innovation and trains students in various technical, economic, managerial and business aspects of 3D printing, a disruptive technology which is expected to replace in the future certain traditional production methods, reform the whole industrial process chain and also create a new innovative industry. Aims and Objectives The aims and objectives of the programme are summarized as follows:
  • Understanding of the current status and future trends in product design
  • Hands-on experience on advanced software and state-of-the-art equipment
  • Collaborations and consultation with design and engineering companies
  • Marketing and branding of new products
  • Interdisciplinary approach to design thinking
  • Management of operations knowledge for real world projects
  • Innovation driven design and entrepreneurship
  • An insight into production techniques and modern applications
  • Design and management leadership
The MSc in Strategic Product Design is designed for university graduates with the following academic backgrounds: Engineering, Geotechnical, Natural Sciences, Business/Economics. Leading academics from prestigious academic institutions from Greece and abroad, together with key players from industry and product design related organizations, teach in the programme. The courses of the programme are taught exclusively in English. The academic staff comes from Universities in Greece and abroad. Official Government Gazette: Re-establishment PDF (in Greek) Regulation PDF (in Greek)
Key facts
Start date: October 2020 Application deadline: 12 October 2020 extended until 22 October 2020 or until places are filled Campus: Thermi, Thessaloniki
Duration/Mode: 14 months (full-time) or 26 months (part-time)/ weekdays evenings Taught language: English Entry requirements: An undergraduate degree from an accredited University Language requirements: IELTS (academic 6.5 and above), TOEFL (IBT, 90 and above) or TOEIC (850 and above) score, or a recognised by the Greek State certificate of proficiency in English Fees: 4,000€ (total) How to apply: Programme announcement (en+gr)

Who can apply

To be considered for the programme, candidates are required to have:
  • an undergraduate degree from a recognized University
  • proof of English competence [a recognised certificate of proficiency, recently acquired IELTS (academic 6.5 and above), or TOEFL (IBT, 90 and above) or TOEIC (850 and above) score]

Course content

During the first term, students are required to follow five core courses. During the second term, students are required to follow four core courses tailoring their programme further by two elective courses or a consulting project. Finally, in the third semester (and fourth semester in the case of pursuing a research-based dissertation), work is dedicated exclusively to the Master’s dissertation. The dissertation provides an opportunity to apply theory and concepts gained during the year to a real-world problem.

The core courses

1st Term Core Courses Core Courses – Stream Product and Services Management Core Courses – Stream Product Creativity and Design Core Courses – Stream Industrial Design and Innovation

2nd Term Core Courses

Core Courses – Stream Product and Services Management Core Courses – Stream Product Creativity and Design Core Courses – Stream Industrial Design and Innovation The elective courses During the second term students tailor their programme further by choosing elective courses. The choice of elective courses must sum up to 6 ECTS (2 courses or a consulting project). Some of the elective courses may not be offered in a particular year, depending entirely on student demand.

2nd Term Elective Courses

Elective Courses – Stream Product and Services Management Elective Courses – Stream Product Creativity and Design Elective Courses – Stream Industrial Design and Innovation

The Dissertation

During the third semester, students work on their Master’s Dissertation project, the thematic area of which is relevant to their programme of studies and their interests. The dissertation is the opportunity to apply theory and concepts learned in different courses to a real-world problem or research question. Students are supervised throughout their projects by a member of the academic faculty and the academic associates of the School. After submission of the dissertation, students present their projects to classmates and faculty. Students have the option to pursue a research-based dissertation of two semesters which leads to MSc in Research in Strategic Product Design and they are awarded with 120 ECTS.

Duration of studies

  • Duration of the programme:1 year (3 semesters) full-time (FT) or 2 years (6 semester) part-time (PT), with dissertation included (1 semester) awarded with 90 ECTS
  • Option to pursue a research-based dissertationof 2 semesters and be awarded 120 ECTS
  • Teaching generally takes place once (PT) or twice (FT)a month except for August and September
  • The programme operates on the following schedule:
Saturday 9.30 – 16.30 Sunday 9.30 – 15:45
  • Examinations take place on Friday afternoons generally before the teaching weekends

The Academic Faculty

Faculty Members

Dr Eleni Heracleous Dr Eleni Heracleous Associate Professor Dean
Professor Panayiotis Bozanis Professor Panayiotis Bozanis +30 2310 807501 pbozanis@ihu.gr
Professor Periklis Chatzimisios Professor Periklis Chatzimisios +30 2310 807501 pchatzimisios@ihu.gr
Dr Maria Drakaki Dr Maria Drakaki Associate Professor +30 2310 807524 mdrakaki@ihu.gr
Dr Christos Tjortjis Dr Christos Tjortjis Associate Professor +30 2310 807576 c.tjortjis@ihu.edu.gr
Dr Vassilios Peristeras Dr Vassilios Peristeras Assistant Professor +30 2310 807539 v.peristeras@ihu.edu.gr
Dr D.Tzetzis Dr Dimitrios Tzetzis Assistant Professor +30 2310 807548 d.tzetzis@ihu.edu.gr

Other Research and Teaching Personnel

Dr Christos Berberidis Dr Christos Berberidis Research and Teaching Staff +30 2310 807534 c.berberidis@ihu.edu.gr
Dr Dimitrios Baltatzis Dr Dimitrios Baltatzis Research and Teaching Staff d.baltatzis@ihu.edu.gr
Dr Stavros Stavrinides Dr Stavros Stavrinides Research and Teaching Staff s.stavrinides@ihu.edu.gr
Dr Georgios Martinopoulos Dr Georgios Martinopoulos Academic Associate +30 2310 807533 g.martinopoulos@ihu.edu.gr
Image not available Dr Leonidas Akritidis Academic Associate
Image not available Dr Dimitrios Karapiperis Academic Associate
Image not available Dr Katerina Tzafilkou Academic Associate

Visiting Faculty

Athanasios Babalis
Product designer
Dr. Nikolaos Bilalis
Professor in CAD/CAM, Director of CAD Laboratory Department of Production Engineering and Management Technical University of Crete
Dr. Agelos Delis
Lecturer in Economics Department of Economics, Finance and Entrepreneurship Aston Business School, Birmingham
Dr. Fotis Filippopoulos
Corporate Innovation Specialist
Sergios Fotiadis
Industrial Designer
Alexis Georgakopoulos
Director, Industrial Designer ECAL Lausanne University of Art and Design
Dr. Manto Gotsi
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Marketing at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University
Dr. Kostis Indounas
Associate Professor of Marketing Athens University of Economics and Business
Dr. Apostolos Kalfopoulos
Lecturer, School of Architecture Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dr. Veronika Kapsali
Associate Professor in Material Technology and Design London College of Fashion, UK
Dr. Dimitris Karalekas
Professor in Product Development and Design Engineering Department of Industrial Management and Technology, University of Piraeus
Orestis Kourakis
Computational Photographer
Dr. Flora Kokkinaki
Associate Professor Department of Marketing and Communication Athens University of Economics and Business
Dr. Panagiotis Kyratsis
Associate Professor, Head of the Centre of Product and Packaging Design Department of Industrial Design Engineering, Technological Educational Institution of West Macedonia
Dr. Georgios Liamadis
Associate Professor, Head of the lab of Industrial Design in the School of Visual and Applied Arts Faculty of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dr. Paul Maropoulos
Professor of Manufacturing Engineering, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Aston University, UK
Thomas Meiren
Deputy Director, Business Unit “Service Management“ Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering
Dr. Nikolaos Michailidis
Associate Professor of Production Engineering and Materials Technology Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dr. Dimitris Nathanael
Lecturer School of Mechanical Engineering (NTUA)
Dr. Kostas Selviaridis
Assistant Professor Lancaster University Management School
Ioanna Symeonidou
Designer, researcher and educator
Gary Telaak
Head designer @ AUDI
Athansios Tsampoukas
Creative Director, Designer, Founder of Dolphins Communication Design Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dr. Nikos Tsinikas
Professor of Architectural Design & Architectural Technology
Dr. Dimitrios Tsivrikos
Teaching Fellow University College London (UCL)
Grigoris Zarotiadis
Associate Professor, Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences Aristotle University of Thessaloniki(UCL)

Digital Manufacturing and Materials Characterization Laboratory (DMMC Lab)

Please click here for further information

Student’s work

Activities

Videos and interviews

Fees & Financing

Fees

The programme fees for the MSc in Strategic Product Design is 4000€. The amount is payable in two instalments for the full time mode or in four instalments for the part time mode at the beginning of each semester. The fees are also eligible for financing through LAEK 0,45% – OAED programme.

Deposits

If you have been accepted to a postgraduate programme, you will need to make a payment of the deposit of 500 Euros to secure your place. This amount will count towards the first instalment of your tuition fees. The deposit is non-refundable once you have commenced your studies at the IHU. Prior to that, a refund can be made but a 20% administrative fee will be retained. The deposit can be paid by bank transfer or bank draft. Credit card payments can be made through electronic banking (contact your Bank as handling fees may apply).

Scholarships

The School of Science & Technology offers a number of scholarships for the programmes it offers, covering a significant proportion of the fees. These scholarships are competitive. Award criteria include the quality of the first degree, the undergraduate grades of the candidate, his/her command of the English language and overall profile. Candidates for scholarships should include a separate letter with their application documents in which they request to be considered for a scholarship, stating the reasons why they think they qualify.

Programme announcement – Admissions

Next MSc in Strategic Product Design class starts in October 2020. Interested parties are invited to submit their application by 12 October 2020 extended until 22 October 2020 or until places are filled, by following instructions at the page ‘Apply to UCIPS’. Programme announcement (English) Programme announcement (Greek)

Ideal Career path

Given the dynamic role of the manufacturing and innovation sector in industrial and technological enterprises and the need for the provision of specialized scientific knowledge it is quite evident that there is a need for a postgraduate programme in “Strategic Product Design” which will provide the necessary interdisciplinary technical knowledge and cover the corresponding market needs and which will be aimed at a number of professionals (engineers, fine arts graduates, economists, computer programmers, business management graduates, science graduates etc.). Graduates of the MSc in Strategic Product Design can indicatively follow the career paths listed below:
  • Positions in companies requiring design and management leadership
  • Positions in design studios – engaging in various stages of the product development process, from concept to detail design and analysis
  • Positions in companies producing industrial products such as electrical and electronic devices, clothing, food (packaging design), mechanical components, plastics etc.
  • Positions in consulting companies dealing with product design, product development, entrepreneurship and innovation
  • Research positions – conducting research and pursuing Doctoral studies in the field of design
  • Teaching positions in Higher Educational Institutions, secondary education, technical and vocational training, public and private education at a theoretical, technical and applied level
  • Positions in innovative knowledge-intensive start-up companies (or creation of their own start-up companies) where skilled knowledge is needed in order to understand the opportunities and challenges provided by new digital design and manufacturing technologies (e.g. 3D printing) as well as the management of disruptive technologies in terms of financial figures, costing and management
In addition to technical skills gained through study, our students benefit from the University’s excellent Careers Office in order to attain essential soft skills (e.g. communication skills, interview preparation, CV writing etc.) to better prepare for the job market.

Location

The MSc in Strategic Product Design takes place in the facilities of the School of Science & Technology of the University Center of International Programmes of Studies of the International Hellenic University in Thermi-Thessaloniki.

Contact

Postal address: School of Science & Technology Department of School of Science & Technology University Center of International Programmes of Studies 14th km Thessaloniki – Nea Moudania 570 01 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece Tel: +30 2310 807 526/529 Email: : infotech@ihu.edu.gr