Master’s programme Technology Work and Health earns IOSH accreditation
The master’s programme in Technology, Work and Health at KTH is now the first degree programme in Sweden to be accredited for IOSH membership. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is a chartered body for health and safety professionals, with more than 50,000 members across over 130 countries. This recognition means that graduates of the programme will be acknowledged worldwide as having met IOSH standards for professional competence in occupational safety and health.
The certification process was initiated based on feedback from students and alumni. This certification is mentioned in many job postings for international companies, and several of the recent graduates have suggested that the programme should pursue it. Programme Director Catherine Trask acted on their feedback.
“Also last year, one of our master’s students completed a master’s thesis investigating the roles and responsibilities of work environment engineers in Sweden, which included a quantitative analysis of job postings in occupational safety and health. When I saw that IOSH certification was frequently listed as a qualification – particularly by global companies and for highly sought-after positions – I was convinced that we should seek certification for our programme,” she says.
Catherine Trask is convinced that the IOSH accreditation will make the degree even more appealing to international applicants, especially since the title of the programme can sometimes be confusing.
“Depending on the track, our master’s programme includes elements of ergonomics, human factors, work environment engineering, and industrial hygiene – even though none of these terms appear in the degree title. With IOSH certification, prospective students can be confident that the programme provides standardized, globally recognized skills and knowledge that international employers value,” she says.
Alumnus Hassan Afroze, now VCB Safety Manager at Scania, believes that certification is important.
“IOSH certification has long been an aspiration for health and safety professionals, both new and experienced. It helps with global mobility across many organisations and regions, helps build professional networks and paves the way for career advancement," he says.
“We encourage current students and alumni to consider IOSH membership for themselves. In particular, IOSH provides a wide range of services to students, including scholarships and professional development seminars,” says Catherine Trask.
Text: Åsa Karsberg