Introduction of Space Science in Higher Education: Space Science in BSc Engineering

Abstract

Space science is a fascinating and powerful field in which our country has now become an important part. From an educational point of view, several universities now offer some kind of specialised training in space science, and there are already master's degrees in space engineering. Under the UniSpace programme, 17 Hungarian universities are cooperating to offer advanced training in space science at four universities. However, at bachelor's level, a prospective engineer is unlikely to encounter a subject related to space science outside of basic physics, or it may only be offered in a few specialised programs. Future professionals should be introduced to this discipline as soon as possible. This is why universities should consider offering undergraduate-level space science courses, to better prepare students interested in pursuing careers in this field. The Széchenyi István University of Győr has already taken several steps to promote space technologies, including the SZESAT student group, where students can work on space telecommunications, the Mobilis summer children's camps, where SZESAT gives lectures on the topic every year, and the University of Győr is also a member of the UniSpace Hungary consortium. The study seeks to answer two questions: first, how interested students are in a similar subject that introduces them to space science and the basic space technology opportunities. The second is what majors are interested in the new subject, and which segments of the discipline might be the most interesting to them. In addition to the two main orientations, another important consideration is how students might integrate it into their studies and what prior learning would be required to start such a new subject.