Experiences in the Development and Implementation of an Academic Master Degree in Ergonomics in Mexico

Abstract

Due to increasing demands for ergonomists and to the scarcity of educational offers in this field in Mexico over the last 15 years, an Ergonomics Master degree was created at the University of Guadalajara. Based on a national market survey, on a review of the requirements of professional certification agencies in ergonomics in USA and Europe, and on a review of the program contents of ergonomics master’s degrees in other countries, the conceptual structure of the areas of knowledge and application of the discipline lead to a two-year study program designed with two specializing orientations: Design Ergonomics and Occupational Ergonomics. After some time, 90% of the students enrolled in the courses of both orientations, so it was decided to merge the two orientations, both successful today. Graduates have been able to find jobs in universities and educational institutions, and in companies and industries from the region. The program consists of 22 courses with a total of 1,100 contact hours, 308 h of after-school study and 200 h for the development of a thesis. The courses cover the essential aspects of Physical Ergonomics, Cognitive Ergonomics and Organizational Ergonomics. Visiting professors with a high academic profile teach several of the courses, from countries such as the U.S., Spain, Brazil, UK, and Chile. The creation of the postgraduate program was possible thanks to a group of professors who founded an Ergonomics Laboratory in 1987, which in 1997 became a Research Center. They began a self-training process through courses taught by foreign professors. They started to do research and also teaching processes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Thus, they acquired the necessary knowledge and skills design and implement a postgraduate program. The attendance of these professors in national and international ergonomics congresses enabled the contact with other institutions and professors from foreign universities that show a very high availability to participate and actively collaborate in the process. Even with ups and downs the training process was followed: one of the professors could undertake his Doctorate in ergonomics at the University of Loughborough and one of our first graduates is also starting there her PhD. We are aware of IEA’s efforts in favor of ergonomists training, but we would have appreciated greater support to incorporate first level visiting professors in diverse areas. The postgraduate program has been maintained for 4 generations. We hope to start a doctorate in collaboration with other universities in the world, and that the political changes coming in our country will favor the arrival of honest officials who understand the importance of supporting training processes in all scientific areas.