Steps toward implementing a CDIO

approach at Telecom BCN

Ramon Bragós, Eduard Alarcón, Elisa Sayrol

E
Escola
l Tè
Tècnica
i S Superior
i d’E
d’Enginyeria
i i dde T
Telecomunicació
l i ió
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC
Barcelona, Spain

Contents

• Introduction to UPC Telecom BCN

• Steps toward implementing a CDIO approach at
Telecom BCN
• Specific Telecom BCN foreseen contributions to CDIO
initiative

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 2

Telecom BCN

•Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)

•Telecom BCN, UPC EE school
# Students……………….…….2000
# Incoming students/year……..400 (decreasing)
# Graduated students/year…...250
# Faculty
Faculty…………………...…...286 286
# Admin. staff..............................30
# Labs …………………………. 36
• 5 year degree (Telecom engineer) with three specialties
• Communication systems
• Networks
• Electronic
El t i S Systems
t
• 4 Master
• Communication systems (MINT, MERIT)
• Networks
• Electronic Engineering
Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 3

Telecom BCN

• New degrees in the Bologna context:

• 4 year bachelor degrees (professional proficiency)
• Communication systems
• Networks
• Electronic Systems
• Audiovisual Systems
• Generic degree (more basic science and core
fundamentals). Coupled with a specific master.
• Masters ((comm systems,
y electronics, networks,
photonics…)

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 4

Telecom BCN

Current focus
• Engineering science, research oriented
• Research groups very active in research projects and
technology transfer
• “good quality” outcome, oversized for the local industry
• Cost: High drop-out, partially unadapted engineers
• Teaching approach:
• Formulation, modeling ++++
• Analysis +++
• Design +
• Implementation
p –

• Operation – – –
Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 5

Steps toward CDIO

Frame:
• EHEA. Bologna process
• Government and Universityy rules
• New bachelor curricula
• Pushed to move toward outcome oriented learning
• New curricula design time schedule
• Scheme approved november 2008
• Subjects detail approved june 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 6

Steps toward CDIO

Restrictions:
•Skills and abilities (competences) learning and assessment
• 7 generic skills are mandatory (UPC)
• Innovation
I ti and
d entrepreneurship
t hi
• Societal and environmental context
• Co
Communication
u cat o in English
g s
• Oral and written communication
• Teamwork
• Survey of information resources
• Autonomous learning
• Each center can choose 2
2-3
3 additional generic skills
• Each center should define the skills learning outcomes,
map, path and coordination procedure.
• EE Professional Association also has a skills list
Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 7

Steps toward CDIO

TELECOM BCN new curricula:

• Need to become student centered
• Need to include skills and abilities learning
• Need to include more active learning methods
• Need to motivate both students and facultyy members
• Alternatives:
• Adopting a minimum entropy approach (NO)
• Just adopting new methodologies
• Taking the change process as an opportunity to renew and
improve the learning outcomes of our students
• CDIO as a context

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 8

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 9

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 10

Steps toward CDIO

International Overview (I)

1

Study Plan Methodology Quality

University Options Program 
EE  Capstone  Undergrad.  Engineering 
Image and  Structure Comm. Skills Assessment Quality 
Comm. Networks Electronics Other Introduction Course Research Skills
Video Tracking
BS(4), 
Permanent 
MIT YES YES YES NO BS+MS(5), 
( ), YES YES YES CDIO 4 courses Warning flag
g g
revision
i i
MS(2)
Independent 
Withdrawing 
Stanford YES YES YES NO study  BS(4), MS(2) YES YES YES CDIO Not explicitly Every 5 years
courses
program
Independent  BS(4), 
Withdrawing  Students’
Berkeley YES YES YES NO study  BS+MS(5),  YES YES YES CDIO Not explicitly
courses feedback
program MS(2)

Columbia YES YES YES NO BS(4), MS(2) NO YES NO CDIO Not explicitly

Wisconsin‐ Communication Skills 
YES YES YES NO BS(4), MS(2) Optional YES YES CDIO
Madison Certificate
Independent  BS(4), 
Georgia Tech YES YES YES NO study  BS+MS(5),  YES YES YES CDIO Not explicitly
program MS(2)
Research‐
McGill YES YES YES NO BS(4), MS(2) NO YES YES based  Not explicitly
learning

Toronto YES YES YES NO BS(4), MS(2) YES YES YES

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 11

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 12

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 13

Steps toward CDIO

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 14

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 15

Steps toward CDIO

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 16

 ,

0,00
0,50
1,00
2,00
2,50
3,00
3,50
4,50

1 50
1,50
4,00
2.1. E
ENGINEERING
REAS
SONING AND
PROBL
LEM SOLVING

2.2. EXPER
RIMENTATION
AND KNO
OWLEDGE
DISC
COVERY

2.3. SYST
TEM THINKING

15 9
15,9
2.4. PERS
SONAL SKILLS
AND AT
TTITUDES

21,2
F
2.5. PRO
OFESSIONAL

18,8
SKILLS AN
ND ATTITUDES

lt
Steps toward CDIO
Steps toward CDIO

Faculty
3.1
1. TEAMWORK

3.2. COM
MMUNICATION

3.3. COMM
MUNICATION
IN FOREIGN
N LANGUAGES

44,1

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009
4.1. EX
XTERNAL AND
SOCIET
TAL CONTEXT

O
ETSETB CDIO Survey

4.2. ENTE
ERPRISE AND
BUSINES
SS CONTEXT

DESIGNING,
REASONING
1 TECHNICAL
KNOWLEDGE
4.3. CONC
CEIVING AND

4 CONCEIVING,
ENGINEERIING SYSTEMS

COMMUNICATION
AND ATTRIBUTES
2 PERSONAL AND
G AND

3 INTERPERSONAL

IMPLEMENTING AND
4.4
4. DESIGNING

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

OPERATING SYSTEMS IN
SKILLS: TEAMWORK AND
4.5. IM
MPLEMENTING

4.6
6. OPERATING

18
17
Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 19

Steps toward CDIO

UPC EE professional assoc

assoc.

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 20

Steps toward CDIO

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 21

Steps toward CDIO

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 22

Steps toward CDIO

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 23

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 24

Steps toward CDIO

• Generic UPC skills

1. Innovation and entrepreneurship
2. Societal and environmental context
3 Communication
3. C i ti iin a fforeign
i llanguage (E
(English)
li h)
4. Oral and written communication
5 Teamwork
5.
6. Survey of information resources
7 Autonomous learning
7.
•Additional skills
8.Abilityy to identify,
y, formulate and solve engineering
g gpproblems
9.Ability to Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate complex
systems in the ICT context
10 Experimental behavior and ability to manage instruments
10.Experimental

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 25

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• Approval by committees,
committees assembly
assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at september 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 26

 Steps toward CDIO
SEMINARS
4B FINAL PROJECT - 24 (DEPARTMENT / COMPANY / FOREIGN UNIV.)
6 ECTS

ELECTIVES (18-30) COMPANY INTERNSHIP (0 -12))

4A

SPECIALITY- 6 SPECIALITY- 6 SPECIALITY- 6 ADVANCED ENGINEERING PROJECT - 12

3B

3A SPECIALITY- 6 SPECIALITY- 6 SPECIALITY- 6 SPECIALITY- 6 MANAGEMENT- 7.5

ENG.PROJECT - 6 SOFT. ENG.- 6 COMM. SYSTEMS - 6 ELECTRONICS - 6 NETWORKS - 6

2B

2A ADVANCED MATH 7.5 A/V. APPL: - 4.5 COMM. SYSTEMS - 6 ELECTRONICS - 6 NETWORKS - 6

LINEAR SYSTEMS - 6 PHYSICS- 6 MATH - 7,5

,
1B SOFT ENG - 6 INTRO EE -4.5
INTRO. -4 5

1A ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS - 7.5 PHYSICS - 4.5 MATH - 6 MATH - 6 SOFT. ENG. - 6

BASIC CORE ADVANCED

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 27

Steps toward CDIO

Steps:
• International engineering education models comparison
• CDIO identification. Involvement of managing team
• New Curricula Advisory Committee
• Internal CDIO survey
• CDIO Syllabus – standards comparison
• Telecom BCN Competences (skills) list and definition (3 levels)
• Design
D i off “CDIO compatible”
tibl ” Curricula
C i l
• Informative campaign
• 1st steps in workspaces redesign
• Approval by committees, assembly, university and Ministry
• 2 of the new degrees will start at September 2009

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 28

Foreseen Contributions

• Preliminary Telecom BCN contribution proposals

• Geographic (Spain, south of Europe) and thematic(EE) specificity
• Influence in South American universities
• Dealing with diversity. Different approach in the different
bachelor grades, minors and even projects as a way to attend the
student diverse interests and abilities
• Low level design
• Design
D i Oriented
O i t d Analysis
A l i

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 29

Conclusions

• Limited time for the design of new curricula

• Design of a “CDIO compatible” structure
• Integrated
g curricula
• introduction to engineering course
• project courses
• interwoven skills
• Need to step back and repeat several steps
• external survey
• staff
t ff ttraining
i i and
d involvement
i l t

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 30

Continental Europe CDIO meeting

Singapore, 7-10 june 2009 31