The ecological challenges facing society, particularly in view of the climate crisis, require a change in the industry. Sustainable lightweight construction not only makes it possible to manufacture technically high-quality products, it also conserves resources that are essential for securing the future. TU Ilmenau is responding to these requirements with the new expansion of the Master's degree programme in Mechanical Engineering to include a specialisation in "Sustainable Lightweight Construction".

Qualification for new challenges

Whether energy-efficient drives in vehicle technology, consumer electronics devices or new sustainable energy generation and supply - each product requires highly qualified mechanical engineers who are looking for functional technical solutions that are also as resource-efficient and sustainable as possible. The aim of lightweight construction is to save mass, material and energy while the function of the product remains the same or is even improved. To achieve this, the structure, design, materials and manufacturing processes for a component or the entire product are optimised. By reducing the mass, optimising the use of materials and adapting the design to lightweight construction, the aim is to increase material and resource efficiency and drastically reduce the emission of climate-damaging carbon dioxide - before, during and after the product's service life. The areas of application for such sustainable lightweight products cover the entire spectrum of society: from medical technology, mobility and mechanical engineering to energy generation and supply, buildings and households, right through to sport and leisure.

Broad range of subjects enables interdisciplinary solutions

With the introduction of the new specialisation, students on the Master's degree course in Mechanical Engineering will focus on the topic of "sustainable lightweight construction". In addition to lightweight construction technology, the core subjects include modern manufacturing processes and materials, product development and the latest simulation methods. Depending on their needs and interests, students have the opportunity to specialise in sustainable production management, measurement technology and the diverse fields of application of lightweight construction. This range of subjects is also intended to enable students to search for sustainable solutions in an interdisciplinary manner. According to the TU Ilmenau, the Master's degree programme in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on "Sustainable Lightweight Construction" is a first-class course with forward-looking content and formats.

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