How can we prepare future engineers to the labour market? A University-Business Cooperation project

using Context and Problem-Based Learning approaches

Gonçalo Cruz1,3 and Caroline Dominguez2,3

1INESC TEC – Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores - Tecnologia e Ciência, Porto, Portugal2CIDTFF – Centro de Investigação ‘Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores’, Aveiro, Portugal

3University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

AGENDA1.BACKGROUND2.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.OUR CONTEXT AND PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH4.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION5.FUTURE WORK

Companies find students not enough prepared for the challenges of the real world/labour market

(Andrews and Higson, 2008; Jackson, 2014)

Students (also) find that.. (European Commission, 2013; OECD, 2015)

Context Based-Learning

Problem-Based Learning

AGENDA1.BACKGROUND2.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.OUR CONTEXT AND PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH4.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION5.FUTURE WORK

Exploratory Case Study Research (Yin, 2013)

RQ1: How this kind of projects (UBC) and pedagogical approaches (CBL and PBL) can impact students' learning?

RQ2: In which extent it can bring value for the companies involved?

Data Collection: supported by participatory observation and two questionnaires students' and experts' general expectations, perceptions and attitudes towards this UBC project .

AGENDA1.BACKGROUND2.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.OUR CONTEXT AND PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH4.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION5.FUTURE WORK

Our context

Learning Objectives

• Identify activities which generate value and those which produce waste in an industrial environment;

• Analyse potential benefits (and drawbacks) of using some of the most popular tools of lean management;

• Apply key performance management metrics;

• Improve self-confidence in solving problems and in tackling the real entrepreneurial world’s challenges.

Implementation

21 students

13 companies

1 teacher

1st stage: project setup

2nd stage: processes observation and discussion

3rd stage: problem-solving and proposal of solutions

AGENDA1.BACKGROUND2.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.OUR CONTEXT AND PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH4.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION5.FUTURE WORK

Students’ profile

16 from 21 responded 23 years / average

Few previous work experienceAlmost none similar experience at the university

Companies experts' profile

11 from 13 responded 45 years old / average

High range of roles and position within their companies

Motivation and confidence

Awareness

Trust Building

Clear objectives

Experts’ profile, number and diversity of visits/talks

Questioning/CT skills

Type and length of UBC project

AGENDA1.BACKGROUND2.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.OUR CONTEXT AND PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH4.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION5.FUTURE WORK

http://www.utad.pt/vPT/Area2/noticias/Paginas/2016/fevereiro/projetos_chtmad.aspx

Any questions? Thank you for your attention!

goncaloc@utad.pt