Breadth Experiential Courses to Meet Programme Outcomes for Engineers

International audienceIn engineering education, it is recognized that non-technical courses are to enhance student enthusiasm. Breadth courses are not part of the classical scope of the curriculum structure and expose students to a range of perspectives outside of their engineering program. For this reason, such courses reinforce the students' motivation and self-confidence, but may also strengthen transdisciplinary skills, fully aligned with the engineering profession requirements. Based on this assumption, this paper reflects, via a qualitative analysis, on a navigation and sea risks course, including in-situ real experiences, aimed at future engineers in a generalist and integrated programme. Because it triggers decision and judgment making skills, the course permits students to develop higher confidence in their ability to grasp complex situations, to adapt dynamically to unexpected circumstances, and to act in uncertain contexts