CDIO Course Development for Faculty in Raw Materials Programmes

Paper in proceeding, 2017

In Europe, the existing MSc programmes which are linked to the thematic Raw Material content often focus mainly on technical knowledge in itself, and students graduate as professionals who know how to solve pre-defined technical problems. Students in such programmes seldom practice entrepreneurial, communication and innovation skills at a level that is needed in working life. On the other hand, the CDIO Initiative has developed a framework for modernizing engineering education by introducing such skills and thinking into the technical programmes and courses. It is widely discussed in the CDIO community that one of the constraints in implementing CDIO is faculty staff professional development. CDIO standards 9 and 10 focus on the faculty development and competencies both in terms of pedagogic as well as learning methods to deal with personal and interpersonal skills, and product, process, and system building skills. In order to bring a change and implement CDIO into the Raw Materials programmes in Europe, a modular course for training in CDIO was developed and delivered for the faculty member in the Raw Materials sector. This paper accounts for the development of the faculty training course, and provides a unique perspective on the implementation of CDIO into raw materials related programmes capturing the different models of implementation from different universities’ programmes and courses. The various universities involved provide programmes and courses across the entire value chain of raw materials from mining and minerals processing to materials design, sustainability and recycling. This paper will serve as a reference for the educators to develop and implement CDIO education methods in specific disciplines as illustrated here in the field of raw materials related programmes.