Mechanical Engineering Students Project-Based Learning in OUAS

Abstract

Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OUAS) is in the Norther Finland, in the city of Oulu. It has c.a. 9500 students and 500 staff members. The School of Engineering and Natural Resources as c.a. 2400 students, and c.a. 150 staff members, which makes it largest of the Schools of the OUAS. This paper introduces project-based learning approach which is used in the School of Engineering and Natural Resources, Mechanical Engineering department to get local companies to offer project works to mechanical engineering students. The concept is based on organizing a local event or online event for the companies to come to OUAS campus to present their challenges needing engineering students to solve. The companies are then competing, selling or pitching, their problem for engineering students as the engineering students will then individually select the most interesting cases to be solved, and which has linkage to potential summer job and thesis work opportunities if projects are successful. The proposed project topics vary from factory level to single mechanical device building, and industry areas range from high tech industry to healthcare to wood industry, as the application potential of mechanical engineering is wide. The concept has proven to be successful, and it has been established as traditional event with many companies returning to the pitching event annually to get their industry problems solved by group of engineering students.