Q. Could you give us an overview of the master programme’s theme?
A. The master’s program focuses on Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems, training engineers and architects in the civil engineering and building sectors. Covering areas such as transport, smart cities, mobility, energy, water, and the environment, it trains students to tackle contemporary challenges by equipping them with digital solutions such as BIM, IoT, machine learning, big data, programming, smart technologies, etc. Additionally, it includes also soft skills applied in management and innovation to develop critical thinking.
Developed by an Academic Committee composed of experts, teachers and professionals from different companies, the curriculum provides the skills needed to design, develop, maintain, and manage digital twins in civil engineering and urbanism. The program is structured in an executive blended mode, with core, basic and applied specialized courses, while allowing students to balance their studies with professional work thanks to online evening classes and three onsite meetings throughout the year.
It also includes a capstone project, done in groups of several Learners throughout the year, which serves as the culmination of the academic training, combining all theoretical knowledge learnt into a practical use-case provided by a partner company. Without forgetting that this master’s degree is an international joint degree defined by four leading Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within the EELISA alliance, which aims to foster European competitiveness and sovereignty in this field.
Q. Who is the target audience?
A. The program targets engineers with backgrounds in construction, civil engineering, architecture, or transportation, encompassing those with several years of industry experience, senior professionals seeking skill updates, and recent graduates aspiring to specialize early in their careers. The aimed sectors include therefore infrastructure, urban planning, transport, smart cities, mobility, energy, and water management.
By focusing on these areas, the program aims to attract professionals who are already engaged in fields related to the development and management of complex infrastructures and urban ecosystems.
Q. Could you talk a bit about the composition of the teaching staff?
A. One of the key assets of the master’s program is its development by four European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), leveraging each institution’s strengths to design an exemplary curriculum and appoint top experts in the field. An Academic Committee, composed of experienced professionals in higher education and pedagogy, oversees the program, ensuring a comprehensive approach that incorporates all HEI competencies.Each HEI contributes its unique resources, extending the potential pool of instructors beyond civil engineering, architecture, and urban design to include faculties from telecommunications, electronics and computer science. This multidisciplinary approach broadens the program’s scope and enriches the educational experience.
Moreover, the teaching staff includes professionals from various companies in the sector, ensuring a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills through interactive classes. Additionally, the master’s program features a bi-weekly cycle of public conferences, where international experts lecture on topics related to Digital Twins. These conferences expand the scope of application and provide diverse insights from sectors beyond civil engineering and urban design.
See some insights from the master’s organizers and participants
Q. What practical applications will the master’s programme have in the professional lives of the students?
A. Digital Twins encompasses a multitude of parallel digital technologies, making it challenging to integrate them effectively in digitalization projects. This master’s program provides learners with comprehensive knowledge of all potential digital technologies involved in Digital Twins, while also offering the key holistic understanding of their design and management.
The skills acquired through this program can be transformative in professional careers, equipping graduates to become strategic figures in any organization. For example, they may take on roles such as digital project managers, where they can drive innovation and manage complex digital initiatives.
Q. How has the first edition gone? What is your overall assessment?
A. With 19 learners, more than 70 teachers from around the globe, 15 conferences, 6 capstone projects, and 3 onsite events, the first edition of the program faced significant challenges due to its short development period but achieved tremendous success. The learners were highly motivated and eager to enhance their skills, aiming to become strategic experts in managing digital projects within their institutions. The onsite events provided exceptional opportunities to foster cohesion within the cohort and establish professional relationships that extend beyond the program. As with any inaugural edition, some aspects were not perfect. However, the connections made between students and faculty allowed for valuable insights and feedback, which will be used to improve future editions of the program.
Q. Looking ahead to the start of the second edition, what will be the most significant changes?
A. The main feedback from learners in the first edition was the benefits of having a holistic view of Digital Twins from the beginning of the master. In response, the structure of the master’s program has been updated to provide a comprehensive overview of the design, development, and validation of Digital Twins at the start of the academic year. This includes mandatory core digital courses, alternating with classes structured into three main blocks: Models, Programming, and Data.
The calendar has been simplified, eliminating the occurrence of two different courses in a row on the same evening, and classes now start a bit later to accommodate learners’ commutes. Additionally, a new specialization in energy and water management has been added, complementing the existing specializations in construction and transport.
Q. Are there any types of financial aid or grants available for the students?
A. Yes, the master’s program is part of a broader European project, with a strong subsidy from both the European Union and the coordinating universities. Besides, public tuition fees already include a €2,000 mobility grant to assist all enrolled students on traveling to participate in the three onsite events held throughout the year. This grant is indicated as a discount in the fees.
Q. What are the future expectations?
A. The expectations for the future are boundless. Firstly, we aim to consolidate the master’s program by significantly increasing the number of learners while maintaining the high level of expertise we strive for them to achieve. Secondly, we plan to enhance specialization by expanding the scope of the program, particularly towards industry applications.
Lastly, our goal is to establish full synergy with our learners and keep them engaged beyond the master’s program. We are creating a Centre of Excellence that will serve as a European hub for Digital Twins in Infrastructures and Cities. This initiative will foster networking, research, technological transfer, and academic training across Europe and globally.
About Mathieu Arquier
Mathieu Arquier graduated from Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC), France. He began his career at SETEC TPI, where he integrated high technical expertise with scientific aspects and contributed to the development of structural analysis software. In 2014, he co-founded STRAINS, a consultancy office dedicated to innovation in civil engineering structures analysis, and supervised three industrial PhD students in partnership with the NAVIER laboratory at ENPC. Since 2021, he has overseen the Dynamics of Structures course and lectured in the Finite Element course.
In July 2023, he expanded his academic responsibilities as the Academic Director of the Executive European Master in Digital Twins for Cities and Infrastructures. His achievements include receiving an honorary mention from the European Federation of Engineering Consultancy in 2012 and the 2021 award from the French Civil Engineering Association.
Curious about the link between EELISA and this master programme?
Note: Admissions for the Digital Twins Insfrastructure & Cities Executive Master are now open for the 24/25 edition. Applications will be processed through the BME admissions site. You will be asked to register at the BME e-admissions site and then will access to the master’s program admissions site.
