In addition of being the only one in Latin America, the Master’s degree in Engineering in Medical Devices offers to the students an attractive syllabus program, with a practical methodology that allows practice-based learning and researching.

This postgraduate program has national and international teachers, classes via Adobe Connect (web conference) and visits during the program to specialized laboratories of national universities, high technology centers, and leading companies in the sector.

This allows the graduates to be specialized researchers and developers of advanced medical devices, the fastest growing industrial sector in Costa Rica: in 2017, 25% of the total exports were medical devices, according to PROCOMER data.

“The program develops the necessary skills for students to develop solutions for the needs of the medical device sector. This takes our engineers to the next level: Research and Development, areas in which companies are beginning to invest. ” remarked Ricardo Esquivel, Master’s coordinator.

The program focuses on teaching students how to develop a medical device prototype in interdisciplinary groups, starting from the investigation of the need for a new product, the market study, and mainly the application of the precise materials to achieve great results.

“It was an extremely enriching experience and in the mayority of the courses there was an orientation towards practice-based learning, that complemented the theoretical aspects.

“On the other hand, the Master’s Degree incorporates relevant topics that have a hight demand, and trending in the industrial area. Which was developed by professionals with great knowledge and experience in each of their fields. Personally, I have learned a lot about data processing, processes and new manufacturing technologies”, argues Wilber Mora, an academic graduate.

Also, the Master’s degree includes certifications in Solidworks and Minitab; and work is being done to include other certifications of this type.

According to Esquivel, it is important to highlight that the eligibility to the degree is not limited to engineers, since it is useful for other professionals in the life sciences industry, such as doctors and therapists, who want to specialize in research and development.

“I had a great experience, where I went to medical industry plants, specialized laboratories, and the ecosystem for clinical investigation. I learned how to make designs of medical device parts and 3D simulations”.

“It allowed me to deepen my knowledge in the areas of manufacturing processes and the program focuses on the importance around the materials used in the device manufacturing, and the characterization of such materials, combining the optimal management and the use of engineering software in the process of advanced manufacturing”, details Alexander Barrantes, also a Master’s graduate.