Postgraduate Courses
ISDN
Integrative Systems and Design
Undergraduate courses marked with [EXP] may adopt the approach of experiential learning subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.
- ISDN 5010Design Methodologies[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course will begin with an introduction to various key design methodologies covering industrial design process, human-centered research and design thinking that are widely used, additionally, AI-enhanced design and transitions design for environmental good that are emerging in the field. The student will be introduced to design as a systematic yet creative process, which is the unique value of design approaches for new and useful solutions. Fundamental design elements regarding function, usage and aesthetics quality will be introduced to support product design, service design or a product and service systems design. During the lectures and lab sessions, students will learn the importance of “design for research”, reasoning, integrating the design thinking mindset into research and project development, and making optimal design decisions. Finally, students will apply the learned design methodologies in real-life projects. Students will be encouraged to discuss their interested ideas with faculty, and present research-related design ideas in class. During the real-life project development process, short lectures will be delivered to provide students with diverse perspectives and knowledge across different areas.
- ISDN 5060Embedded Systems[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)EESM 5060BackgroundBasic undergraduate electronicsDescriptionThis course introduces trends and design strategies for embedded systems.It is designed to provide the basic and hands-on knowledge on embedded system design, including the software and hardware components design. It will give a holistic view of embedded system design using practical applications such as smart phone as illustration example. The course will also discuss the design issues such as testability and power considerations. Hands-on experience will be provided.
- ISDN 5101Design Thinking for Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course teaches user-collaborative design methods to create inclusive product solutions that integrate stakeholder and product functionality perspectives. Students will learn how to think, design, and resolve constraints arising from technical, aesthetic, human factors, and business concerns through hands-on exercises, presentations, and case studies. The course covers topics such as design thinking, stakeholder research, concept development, screening, and selection, and interaction design.
- ISDN 5102Entrepreneurial Literacy[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course equips students to create and manage new ventures. Through theory, practical exercises, case studies, and projects, students will learn to identify and evaluate opportunities, develop innovative business ideas based on a technological concept, and analyze resources and strategies for implementation. Focusing on entrepreneurial teams, opportunities, and iterative processes of venture development, students will gain handson experience and learn key components of venturing a business.
- ISDN 5210Product Design Engineering[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course will introduce incoming graduate students from diverse backgrounds to basic techniques and theoretical approaches in design. It will cover the mathematical foundations of user-centered design, including anthropometric statistical approach as well as quality function deployment, optimal searches over design domains via robust design, and several aspects of green design and lifecycle assessments. It will also cover optimization of mechanical designs via programmed searches on parametric CAD models.
- ISDN 5220Introduction to Marine Technology[3 Credit(s)]Descriptionhe aim of this course is to provide students with a solid background in marine technology, enabling them to design innovative solutions that help conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The course will have a multidisciplinary nature, approaching marine problems from a technological as well as biological perspective.
- ISDN 5230Artificial Intelligence of Things for Healthcare[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)ISDN 6830DDescriptionThis course explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart health, commonly known as AIoT. Students will learn how intelligent algorithms and connected hardware devices work together to enhance patient care, streamline medical processes, and improve diagnostic accuracy. The curriculum covers foundational AI methods, IoT architecture, real-time health monitoring, wellness management applications, and essential knowledge of data privacy, ethical considerations, and regulatory compliance in AIoT. Through lectures, and a team-based final project, students will gain hands-on experience and develop the skills needed to harness AIoT technologies for proactive, personalized health solutions.
- ISDN 5240RoboFab: Robotic Fabrication with Python[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundFamiliarity with the Python programming language and foundational concepts in linear algebra.DescriptionHave you ever imagined robots bringing your digital 3D models to life? This course introduces the fundamental concepts of robotics alongside practical programming skills to control robots for conducting a variety of fabrication processes using Python. Students will gain a solid foundation in essential robotics topics such as forward and inverse kinematics, collision avoidance, and motion planning algorithms. Through hands-on experience, students will also acquire practical fabrication techniques including 3D printing, robotic assembly, and more. As a final project, students will work in teams to design, program, and deploy robots to fabricate their own creative ideas.
- ISDN 5260Systems Design: Going Beyond the Prototype into Product Ecosystems[3 Credit(s)]BackgroundBasic knowledge of product development principles.DescriptionThis project-based systems design engineering course focuses on advanced concepts for analyzing, designing, and implementing complex systems with multiple interrelated components. Students will learn systematic approaches to requirements elicitation, system modeling, architecture design, and integration. Through multidisciplinary teamwork and industry collaboration, students will develop complex systems solutions addressing real-world challenges. The course builds upon product development principles with emphasis on systems thinking, human factors, and comprehensive documentation. Instructor approval is required.
- ISDN 5300Advanced Digital Design[3 Credit(s)]Exclusion(s)CSIT 5940DescriptionThis course will provide an in-depth study of various digital design and computer graphics algorithms and software. Topics include 1) 3D Modelling such as spline surface, solid modelling, transformations, hierarchical modelling; 2) Algorithms in content generation such as procedural modelling and optimization-based modelling; 3) 3D Animation which includes principles of computer animation, particle systems, cloth simulation, and collision detection; 4) 3D rendering such as ray casting and tracing, shading, texture mapping, global illumination, and volume rendering; 5) Advanced topics and recent advances such as Neural Rendering using Generative adversarial network (GAN) and Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF).
- ISDN 5400Advanced Manufacturing[3 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)ISDN 6810ADescriptionThe course introduces advanced manufacturing and characterization skills for fundamental research and emerging applications. This course includes fundamental theory and practical hands-on labs and projects for the students to acquire the basic knowledge of advanced manufacturing skills, including laser engraving, transfer and cutting, CNC, waterjet cutting, UV and electron-beam lithography, dry etching, nanoimprint lithography, metal 3D printing, and stereolithography. The students will acquire knowledge through lectures and practical hands-on labs, and will be fully prepared for future hands-on research and entrepreneurship projects.
- ISDN 5500Advanced Functional Materials Characterizations[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course focuses on the most widely used experimental approaches for structural, morphological, and spectroscopic characterization of functional materials, providing background and insights on the correct usage of the respective techniques, as well as the interpretation of the results. Through systematic lectures and tutorials, students will gain enough knowledge and experience in material characterization. Through the final project, students will conduct a comprehensive characterization of popular functional materials to deepen their understanding of the functional mechanism and the potential for application in integrated systems.
- ISDN 5600Magnetism: From Quantum Mechanics to Medical Robots[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course offers a comprehensive introduction to magnetic materials and their applications. It includes magnetism fundamentals from its quantum-mechanical origins - spin and exchange - in metals and transition-metal oxides, through magnetoelectric materials, electromagnets, Lorentz-force, and other electromagnetic phenomena. Case studies span compass navigation at sea, magnetic data storage, electric motors, MRI, and magnetically actuated microrobots and medical robots.
- ISDN 5610Integrated Sensing, Communication, and Intelligence[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course covers the fundamental concepts of sensing, communication, and machine learning (distributed intelligence), especially focusing on their integration in wireless networks. Students will learn the concepts, methods, and typical application scenarios of sensing, communication, and machine learning, and understand how to combine these techniques in wireless networks and unleash their potential via resolving constraints arising from technical, aesthetic, human factors, and business concerns through hands-on exercises, presentations, and case studies.
- ISDN 5620Fashion Future: Integrating Technology, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship in the Industry 4.0 Era[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course explores the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 on manufacturing, supply chains, and business models, with a specific focus on the fashion and textiles sector. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, and field visits, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the operational dynamics of the fashion and textiles industry and the challenges it faces in the era of digital transformation. Students will be required to critically review and evaluate emerging technologies - such as IoT, AI, robotics, big data, and cyber-physical systems - that are driving the Industry 4.0 revolution. Students will also engage in interdisciplinary projects that address certain real-world challenges of the fashion and textiles industry.
- ISDN 6101Industry Engagement Workshop[3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course is designed for MPhil(TIE) students to understand the different ways of creating an industry engagement strategy for a product that they are developing. This is determined by the interplay of three topics: an understanding of the industry landscape, an understanding of the technology landscape, and an understanding of the regulatory landscape. The students will be exposed to these topics in the context of their selected project domain.
- ISDN 6601Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seminar[1 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course consists of a series of seminars given by faculty and guest speakers to broaden the horizon of students in terms of research excellence and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Regular MPhil(TIE) students must register and pass this course in at least one term of their study period. Graded P or F.
- ISDN 6602New Product Development Project[0 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis project-based product development course covers modern tools and methods for conceiving, designing, and prototyping physical products. Through academic and industry expert advising on marketing, industrial design, patent law, and more, students will learn to identify customer needs, generate concepts, develop engineering designs, and build working prototypes. The course emphasizes integration of marketing, design, and manufacturing functions to create successful products. Students will engage with industries to define real-world user-centered design problems and develop solutions. Graded PP, P or F.
- ISDN 6660Integrative Systems and Design Seminar[1 Credit(s)]DescriptionSeries of seminars by faculty, guest speakers and senior graduate students. Regular MPhil(ISD) students must register and pass this course in at least two terms. Regular PhD(ISD) students must register and pass this course in at least four terms. Graded P or F.
- ISDN 6710-6720Independent Study[1-3 Credit(s)]DescriptionSelected topics related to the research focus of postgraduate students, particularly those pursuing PhD. The course will be studied under the supervision of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit for different topics. Graded P or F.
- ISDN 6810-6830Special Topics[1-3 Credit(s)]DescriptionThis course will cover selected topics of current interest. It may be repeated for credit, if different topics are covered.
- ISDN 6990MPhil Thesis Research[0 Credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)ENGG 6990DescriptionMaster's thesis research supervised by a faculty member. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
- ISDN 7990Doctoral Thesis Research[0 Credit(s)]DescriptionOriginal and independent doctoral thesis research. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
