Profile of the graduate:
The graduates will gain in-depth theoretical knowledge based on the state-of-the-art scientific knowledge in the areas that are directly related to their independent and creative scientific work. They will acquire practical abilities and skills by working on complex experimental equipment and computer systems, in processing results, preparation and presentation of reports on research results. They will gain experience in formulating partial research tasks and managing the sub-teams when relevant tasks of research projects.
Graduates from the doctoral study programme in “Process Control” will be given the scientific education in automation of safety critical processes, including secure and safe communication and processing of information. They are trained for design, development, inspection and verification of multi-level computer-based safety-critical control systems. They have deep theoretical knowledge of specialized parts of mathematics, system theory, dependability (reliability, availability, maintainability, safety, security) and diagnostics, applicable in the field of:
- Automatic and automated control of safety-critical processes,
- Preparation, control and experimental evaluation of safety-critical control systems,
- Information and communication services and technologies used in control applications,
- Modelling and simulation using advanced modelling approaches, including methods of artificial intelligence.
The graduates have practical abilities and skills with work on complex experimental devices and computer-based systems, outputs processing, demonstration and presentation of research reports and limited educational experiences.
Characterization of the study programme:
Education is exclusively provided by full-time professors and associate professors from the UNIZA. Majority of courses is ensured by multiple teachers chosen based on particular PhD thesis topic. The relative fields of study are Cybernetics, Applied Informatics, Software Engineering, Artificial intelligence, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Electronics, Mechatronics, Measurement Technique, and Telecommunications whose parts are involved in systems of automatic control or vice versa, methods and means of automatic control are utilized in these fields.
Courses (in some study documents also called “Subjects”):
A group of courses is defined in such a way that it covers the core of the field of study in Automation and provides a student sufficient theoretical knowledge to fulfil the tasks of the PhD thesis. Two courses are compulsory for all students – Selected parts of mathematics, and the World language. There is strong preference of English since a PhD student must be able to work with English professional texts, to present results of his/her research at international conferences, workshops, symposia etc. A stay abroad is also recommended (organized usually within the frame of the ERASMUS+ programme). Other two compulsory courses are given based on the particular topic of PhD thesis. They are chosen from the following group of courses:
- Theory of automatic control – the course is focused on problems of discrete control systems applied in many modern control applications to ensure stable and precise control with expected parameters.
- Logical and event systems, Control systems and Process control – these courses provide deep theoretical knowledge in the field of automatic and automated control of traffic processes, manufacturing processes and other technological processes on all control levels. They make a PhD student able to understand principles and methods of control system design, obtain skills for use of advance methods of intelligent (smart) control and their information background.
- Reliability and safety of control systems and Secure system communication – unlike other related fields of study this study programme also offers knowledge in control of safety-critical processes. These courses provide knowledge from the field of risk analysis, specification of safety-related requirements, design of control systems (including communication systems as well) having defined requirements to safety integrity and availability, verification, validation and proving safety properties of such systems.
- Modelling and simulation of control systems – the course is focused on solving problems such as modelling and simulation of functional behaviour, reliability and safety properties, development of complex control systems using UML-based object oriented approach etc.
- Theory of signal processing in control – the course covers another topic often needed in control systems.
Independent work and self-activity within a team work of students is supported by other compulsory courses – Dissertation projects I, II, III, IV, and Individual and team scientific work. A PhD student is involved in research projects being actually solved at the Department while objectives of the PhD thesis directly correspond to them. Important and evaluated outputs of these courses are student’s publications, their presentations at scientific events and public defences of elaborated dissertation projects.
Admission Conditions:
The basic condition for admission to doctoral study (3rd level study programme) is a completed second level (master) study programme (Act on Higher-Education Institutions No. 131/2002 Coll.) till the date of the admission procedure. The principles governing the admission procedure are available on official pages of the Faculty’s Education Office.
Applicants from abroad are assessed individually. For payment conditions – see the section “Practical information for study” at the end of page.
Employability:
Complexity of the postgraduate profile ensures success in the labour market – the postgraduates may work in development, design, implementation and operation of control systems. Deep theoretical knowledge and practicall skills open doors to areas of research, practice and management as well. The core knowledge covers advanced methods of control, optimization, methods of design of components and systems of automatic control, methods of design of complex systems of automatic control, modelling and simulation of systems, information background for control systems, smart control systems.
