Career options and professional profile

The professional opportunities and career options are related to the Master's graduate profile, defined for high-level professionals with in-depth training in the field of electrical energy management, specifically in the study, design and operation of power systems applied to renewable energies and sustainable transport. In fact, the main objective of the Master is to train professionals in the design, development, innovation and management of power systems and electrical energy conversion, an enormously multidisciplinary field, where the knowledge of different areas of knowledge converge. Among these areas, stand some key ones, such as electrical engineering, electronic technology, systems engineering, data processing and management, economic management or project management. In addition, the master's program includes subjects of a markedly theoretical nature that provide the necessary foundations for those of a practical nature.

To achieve this objective, the Master's program has a dual scientific and professional approach, which is articulated by means of an optional subject restricted to one of the semesters of the Master's program. But in any case, the Master's Degree, together with the relevant previous Bachelor's Degree, enables students to begin doctoral studies in the EHEA.

• In the scientific track, named "Smart Grids and Electrification of Transportation (Scientific-Technological Research, the training offered allows to deepen in the design and control of applications oriented to two target applications:  
  • electrical power systems based on electronic converters focused on grid integration of renewable sources and distributed energy resources.
  • electric and hybrid traction power systems, both on-board and in recharging infrastructures.

• In the management track, defined as the stream "Offshore Wind Power Generation and Other Renewable Sources (Technical-Economic Management)", the program trains people whose professional future lies in energy management, especially in renewable resources (both offshore wind power and other technologies) that contribute to the decarbonization of the energy system. To this end, the corresponding subjects have been designed to address both energy management in large consumers and the generation and distribution of energy in the deregulated electricity market. 

The outcoming profile is linked with the three keystones of the master topics, that are defined as: :

• Electric Power Systems for integration of renewable energies
• Electric and hybrid vehicles, sustainable transport and mobility
• Energy efficiency, renewable energy and decarbonization and digitalization of the energy system.  

The graduate profile is mainly applied to two areas; the professional and the researcher. Graduates of the Master typically become part of a research group or a team working in the field of renewable energies and/or electric traction, either belonging to the University of Oviedo or other academic institutions, or belonging to companies and enterprises in the sector.  Approximately half of the Master's graduates go on to join companies in the energy sector, electrical distribution or the integration of systems for renewable or traction applications, storage technologies, electrical transport, power management technology or electronics and control. As an example of all of them, there are the collaborating entities of the Master. The remaining half, on the other hand, continue their doctoral studies at the University of Oviedo or in other national and international higher education institutions.  

The Master's Degree is of considerable socioeconomic interest and fits perfectly with the training needs of a large number of companies in the sector at regional, national and international level.

The graduate profile in regional, national and international strategy

The main lines of the Master's program, focused on decarbonization, ecological transition and digitalization, are among the areas of knowledge identified by ANEP as strategic sectors in the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation (2017-2020, and 2021-2025), as well as in other actions such as the Spanish Strategy for Sustainable Mobility.

Specifically, the skills acquired by a student who passes the master's degree are directly related to four of these sectors:

• Climate change and decarbonization
• Sustainable mobility
• Sustainable cities and ecosystems
• Energy transition
• Mathematical modeling and analysis and new mathematical solutions for science and technology. 

Additionally, the master lines of the Master are directly framed in the strategic research and development actions of the political institutions at regional level, since they are directly aligned with those of the Missions established by the Government of the Principality of Asturias, as well as in the basic lines of development of its Smart Specialization Strategy S3.

At the international level, the reference in Europe is the Research Framework Program (it can be seen how the European strategy is transcribed to the national and regional ones).  Based on what was developed in the H2020 program (2014-2020), the new Horizon Europe program raises three pillars of development: the Excellent Science Pillar, the Innovation in Europe Pillar, and the Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness Pillar. In addition, the Just Transition Fund is created with the aim of helping the regions most affected by the ecological transition to move towards a decarbonized economy.

Specifically, the Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness pillar supports research related to societal challenges and strengthens technological and industrial capacities through so-called clusters, and sets out EU missions with ambitious objectives that address some of our biggest problems. This pillar conceives 6 clusters to provide solutions to the challenges posed. In particular, Cluster 5 "Climate, energy and mobility" and, as a basis for cross-cutting enabling technologies, "Cluster 4: Digital world, industry and space" are particularly interesting for the scope of the Master.

• Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility: Seeks to address one of the most important global challenges for the sustainability and future of our environment, our economy and our way of life. The master's degree provides training in relevant aspects of two of the Cluster's priority areas:
  • Priority Area: Energy (Renewable energies for use at the energy system, household and transport level; Energy systems, networks and storage; Energy efficiency in buildings and industry; Communities and cities).
  • Priority Area: Mobility (Industrial competitiveness in transport; Clean, safe and accessible transport and mobility; Intelligent mobility; Energy storage).
• Cluster 4: Digital World, Industry and Space The objective of Cluster 4 is to strengthen the capabilities and ensure the sovereignty of the European Union in key enabling technologies for digitization and production, as well as in space technology along the entire value chain, in order to build a competitive, digital, low-emission and circular industry; ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials; develop advanced materials and provide the basis for breakthroughs and innovation in relation to global societal challenges for society.