Currently, robotics and control systems are becoming more and more ‎available in everyday life. The Mechanical Engineering-Robotics and ‎Control (MERC) program has a top priority since it is the first program ‎that focuses on robotics and control topics in Palestine. The program ‎allows all bachelor engineers from different disciplines to enroll since it ‎covers most of the engineering topics, such as mechanical, electrical, ‎industrial, and computer science engineering.‎
The program has different research aspects and opportunities that open ‎the door for graduate students to work in different disciplines in ‎robotics and control fields. ‎
According to the parental guidance organization (based in the UK), ‎robotics engineering is the second most demanded job of the future ‎‎(https://www.parentalguidance.org.uk/labour-market-information/top-‎jobs-of-the-future). ‎
The program will open the gates for graduates to continue their Ph.D. ‎studies in the fields of robotics, control, mechanical, electrical, ‎autonomous vehicles, and artificial intelligence.‎

This program provides the local and national markets with skilled ‎engineers and experts in the field of robotics and control. Considering ‎the market needs assessment and the strategic action plan of Palestine ‎Technical University-Kadoorie (PTUK), the MERC program is to ‎achieve the following main objectives:‎
• To provide local markets with graduates who acquire practical ‎experience in their domain of expertise and who would be able to ‎lead the technological development process in their organizations.‎
• To meet the demand for specialists who seek opportunities to ‎continue their graduate education in this field, thus saving them ‎expensive travel abroad, by offering the first master program in ‎robotics and control in Palestine.‎
• To satisfy a national economy, it is needed to graduate highly ‎educated engineers, robotics specialists, technologists, and scientists ‎to manage the national efforts towards planning, rehabilitation, ‎development, upgrading, and management of engineering, industry, ‎science, and other technological systems in the country.‎
• To create new high-tech career opportunities due to the rapid ‎growth of the robot sector.

The specific objectives of the MERC program are:‎
• To study robotics systems, analyze their mechanisms, and assess ‎their impacts on societies and industries.‎
• To enrich the knowledge of robotic characteristics, styles, and ‎supporting theories for robotic operations and performance
• To develop and design initial technology assessments for different ‎robotics technologies.‎
• To realize and understand contemporary challenges concerned with ‎robotics and control systems manufacturing and how these affect ‎the industries.‎
• To design and conduct relevant research programs and case studies ‎for robotics applications.‎

The graduates of the MERC program are expected to work in different ‎sectors and achieve good employment rates from several perspectives, ‎including:‎
• Research and development facilities.‎
• Robotics and control analyst.‎
• Robotics engineer.‎
• Higher education institutions.‎
• Control systems and operations.‎
• Automation.‎
• Engineering design.‎
• Financial institutions.‎
• Researchers in robotics and control research centers.‎
• Automobile dealer.‎
• Industrial sectors.‎
• High-tech companies.‎

• Tulkarem.