Specialization – Electronic Systems
This area is characterized by teaching, research, and development activities in electronic and computerized systems, with a strong application focus in energy management, multimedia systems, and health.
It pursues a multidisciplinary approach encompassing industrial systems, power generation and distribution, signal, image, audio and video processing, microelectronics, pathophysiological data management, eHealth, sensor technology, and quality control in the hospital sector.
The field of electronic and computerized systems is structured around embedded and distributed systems and integrated electronic systems, driven by the development of application-specific devices that combine hardware and software techniques.
Among the many modern embedded and integrated applications, those related to healthcare, energy systems, and multimedia require special attention to quality and reliability standards.
The focus is on research developed by permanent faculty from the applicant institution, the Catholic University of Pelotas (UCPel), and by permanent and collaborating faculty from partner institutions under temporary association agreements — namely, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) — with emphasis on applied research in the above areas.
The city of Pelotas has become an important center for the training of professionals in engineering, computer science, and other technological fields.
This growth has been fueled by the rise of several technology companies in the region, some of which have achieved national prominence.
Investments by the World Bank in the local technology park and the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) in transportation and logistics, as well as clear government policies that encourage the development of this sector and the local economy, underscore the continued expansion of technology education in the region.
Evidence of this dynamic development is the highest quality rating awarded to the Computer Engineering program at UCPel by the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC) in November 2017, following an on-site assessment by the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (INEP), with a score of 5.
Despite these advances in undergraduate education, the supply of graduate-level programs remains limited (stricto sensu) and insufficient to meet demand in the region.
The historical development of the technical programs associated with the UCPel faculty provided a natural foundation for the creation of a master’s degree program. However, after a comprehensive assessment, the faculty concluded that an expansion of the academic staff was necessary to ensure the desired quality standards. The long-standing academic collaboration between the UCPel, the UFSC, and the UFRGS over the past ten years was, therefore, the reason for the creation of a Master’s program at the UCPel in a temporary association with these two prestigious federal institutions.
This arrangement was proposed to provide the necessary number of qualified faculty members from each associated institution to initiate extension activities at the Master’s level, subject to capes approval.
The invitation to collaborate arose from pre-existing academic partnerships between UCPel and these institutions, initially fostered by UCPel’s policy of encouraging its lecturers to undertake Ph.D. programs at UFSC and UFRGS.
Upon completion of their doctorates, these ties were naturally strengthened and allowed the establishment of this temporary joint program.
Several joint academic initiatives have emerged in recent years, including research projects, joint supervision of doctoral theses and dissertations, participation in committees, and joint publications at leading conferences and in journals.
It is also noteworthy that UCPel faculty co-supervise students in graduate programs at UFSC and UFRGS.
The MEEC program has further strengthened the integration between researchers from UCPel, the graduate programs in Microelectronics and Computer Science (PGMicro and PPGC – UFRGS) and the graduate program in Electrical Engineering (PPGEEL – UFSC) and promotes graduate research and education in electronics and computer science with emphasis on embedded and distributed systems, integrated electronic systems and methods, materials and radiation applications for health and electronics.
One of the major application areas of the program is healthcare, which is due to the close collaboration between the engineering and healthcare faculties at UCPel.
In particular, the focus of research activities on the needs of the UCPel University Hospital (HUSFP – Hospital Universitário São Francisco de Paula) has led to the development of several projects tailored to the hospital’s technological requirements.
Although healthcare is an important area of application, the diversity of research lines within the program — covering a wide range of topics in the field of electronic and computerized systems — has attracted professionals with different academic backgrounds.
Candidates with degrees in electrical and manufacturing engineering, geoprocessing, and medical physics have continued their education within the MEEC program.
As a result, the program’s lines of research have naturally evolved and now target applications in healthcare, energy management systems, and multimedia systems.
Goals of the program
The overall objective of the Master in Electronic and Computing Engineering (MEEC) program is to promote the education and qualification of computer and electronics engineers and professionals in related fields.
The program aims to develop human resources capable of driving scientific and technological innovation tailored to the needs of society and industry.
The main mission of the MEEC is to promote activities that drive the creation and dissemination of knowledge and technology in the field of Engineering IV, thus contributing to an improved quality of life and sustainable development. In this context, MEEC graduates are expected to integrate a scientific and technological perspective into their undergraduate education and respond to the high demands of academic research and the high-technology labor market.
Profile of graduates
The program aims to train graduates with the competencies and skills required to identify and address problems at the frontier of knowledge in the proposed research areas. Graduates will have a systemic understanding, rigorous scientific methodology, and the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems in the field of electronic and computerized systems.
Specific objectives
– To implement and strengthen the research capacity in electronic and computerized systems in Pelotas and the surrounding region by promoting the qualification of local faculty and technical staff.
– To enable researchers at UCPel and other regional institutions to consolidate and expand their research through the development of new projects.
– To promote effective integration of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs by involving students in electrical engineering, electronics, and computer science in research projects aligned with MEEC’s research lines.
Current coordinator
Coordinator: Prof. Lizandro de Souza Oliveira
Former coordinators
Prof. Alexandra Lackmann Zimpeck
Prof. Eduardo Antonio Cesar da Costa