ACK holds PBL symposium

‘Reshaping learning experience’

KUWAIT CITY, March 25: The School of Engineering’s Center for Project Based Learning (PBL) at the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) successfully wrapped up its second Project Based Learning Symposium, under the theme of “Reshaping the teaching and learning experience”. The symposium brought together industry employers, educators and students to share experiences and insights related to PBL in engineering education.

Keynote speakers, Prof Anette Kolmos, Director of the Aalborg Centre for Problem Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability, Aalborg University, Denmark, and Dr Ronald Ulseth, Director of Academics and Research, Iron Range Engineering / Minnesota State University, USA, shared their wealth of international experiences and knowledge in PBL, while also highlighting PBL as a strategy to achieve innovation in the field of engineering education. They presented evidence for PBL leading to higher academic performance and higher overall quality of education.

From their end, Prof Kolmos and Dr Ulseth stated: “PBL is widely regarded as a highly effective model for students to acquire both technical skill and the much desired employability skills that companies need. ACK has a dedicated staff providing high quality PBL for their students.”

During his welcome speech, Dr Martin Jaeger, Manager of the PBL Center at ACK, stated: “Through learning approaches such as PBL, students take ownership of their learning, they become managers of their own learning, and develop skills and knowledge within a constructive environment. State-ofthe-art laboratory facilities related to Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Petroleum Engineering, tied together with simulations of real world scenarios, all play important roles in enhancing students’ learning process.

He added: “Students are being introduced to the simulation of multidisciplinary engineering design projects that requires the collaboration of students from different engineering disciplines. They work in teams, solve real life engineering problems, develop solution techniques, and develop critical thinking that enhances learning and prepares them for the workplace.”