The Aalborg Centre for Problem Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability is a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO, approved by the General Conference of UNESCO in November, 2013. The Aalborg Centre was formally launched on May 26, 2014.
Globally, there is a need for educating engineers and scientist who can participate in development of sustainable innovations. This will imply a reform of engineering and science education to educate engineers with employable knowledge and skills.
The Aalborg Centre contributes to a reform strategy to higher education by combining Problem and Project Based Learning (PBL), Engineering Education Research (EER) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). This is a unique combination of Research & Development areas that are mutual dependent and complementary.
A driving force for the Aalborg Centre is the exemplary practice Aalborg University has for both PBL and integration of sustainability in engineering and science education. Since 1974, Aalborg University has practised PBL as the pedagogical learning methodology during the entire study period. Aalborg University has also the objective for all students to gain sustainability knowledge, skills and competences as a result of a series of sub-learning outcomes throughout the education.
The Aalborg Centre encompass the UNESCO Chair in Problem Based Learning (UCPBL) which was established in 2007 and is renown for its accomplishments in supporting the development of Problem Based and Project Based Learning in Engineering Education. The Obel Family Foundation has kindly offered to sponsor the UNESCO Centre in PBL for a period of five years with the main task to lead the Aalborg Centre.
Computer science as a field requires curricular guidance, as new innovations are filtered into teaching its knowledge areas at a rapid pace. Furthermore, another trend is the growing number of students with different cultural backgrounds. These developments require taking into account both the differences in learning styles and teaching methods in practice in the development of curricular knowledge areas. In this paper, an intensive collaborative teaching concept, Code Camp, is utilized to illustrate the effect of learning styles on the success of a course. Code Camp teaching concept promotes collaborative learning and multiple skills and knowledge in a single course context. The results indicate that Code Camp as a concept is well liked, increases motivation to learn and is suitable for both intuitive and reflective learners. Furthermore, it appears to provide interesting creative challenges and pushes students to collaborate and work as a team. In particular, the concept also promotes intuition.
M. Cline, and G. Powers. Frontiers in Education Conference, 1997. 27th Annual Conference. Teaching and Learning in an Era of Change. Proceedings., 1, page 350-354. (November 1997)