Program Goals

Technical knowledge

The Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) in Dependable Software Systems balances advanced engineering theories, interdisciplinary knowledge and real-world applications. The program explores tools and methods to define and design for dependability; analyzes errors and their causes, prevention and removal; and examines fault tolerance.

dependable software systems components

Collaborating with your peers under the direction of leading researchers and instructors from industry, you will:

understand how software-intensive systems are engineered through collaborative processes
master and apply core disciplinary knowledge as it relates to software testing and verification and the design and implementation of dependable and secure computing systems
develop your skills in problem formulation, organization and planning
gain exposure to dependability issues in the most common software-intensive industries
acquire project design experience in an application area

“Given the increasing prevalence of autonomous systems it’s critical that engineers understand the limitations of the technology, are capable of deciding if a system is safe or not, and are able to build in additional safeguards to manage risk.” – Sathish Gopalakrishnan

Business foundations

Professional success requires both technical understanding and managerial and business competence. Through courses offered by UBC Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School, you will explore business strategy and innovation, operations and logistics, project management, and organizational leadership. These classes are an opportunity for you to gain foundational business knowledge in:

managing processes in manufacturing systems and supply chains
assessing visual analytics techniques for analysis and communication
evaluating project management processes and demonstrating their use
analyzing sustainability opportunities across a range of industries
presenting recommendations for organizational leadership challenges using a case study analysis approach
understanding business decision-making through the lens of key functional areas (strategy, marketing, operations and logistics, accounting and finance, human resources and organizational behaviour, and entrepreneurship)
understanding the basic principles of organizational strategy and innovation

Leadership and interpersonal skills

Effectively managing people and successfully leading teams requires a wide range of interpersonal skills. The MEL offers professional development workshops throughout the 12-month program. These extra-curricular sessions cover topics that include communication, teamwork, coaching and mentoring. Group projects and collaborative problem-solving are embedded into the MEL courses, creating ongoing opportunities for you to practise your skills as a manager and leader.

Learn more about some of the most significant challenges being faced within the industry and how this innovative leadership master’s degree can place you in a position to address some of our world’s most pressing problems.

Keep Reading: Course Information

Selected Articles

Spotlight: Program Series with Philippe Kruchten - System Dependability

System Dependability By Philippe Kruchten, Director of UBC’s Master of Engineering Leadership in Dependable Software Systems. Before 2015, the most significant developments in dependable …