Using Real Industry Problems to Engage PBL Students

Abstract: PBL is a mode of program delivery which requires substantial effort and commitment to ensure students develop communication and professional skills along with their technical competencies. PBL curriculum design is very important as it ensures the characteristics of PBL are fully utilised to achieve the desired learning outcomes and satisfy the graduate attributes of both Victoria University (VU) and Engineers Australia (EA). Externally sourced problems have been used in the second semester of the second year program in the School of Electrical Engineering to ensure students satisfy EA Stage 1 Competency Standards and fulfil the learning in the workplace commitment of VU. This paper describes how problems from industry (and community organisations) were used to engage students and introduce them to project management, client negotiation and specification writing. The enthusiasm of the students and friendly, collaborative interactions with the external clients resulted in outcomes that exceeded our most optimistic expectations