Implementation of CDIO Standards within a Modular Curriculum of "Metallurgy" Programme

Siberian Federal University has been implementing worldwide CDIO initiative since 2013 in the framework of two undergraduate programs: Metallurgy and Heat Engineering. The fields of engineering activity mentioned above are highly demanded by the industries of Siberian Region of Russia. This paper discusses the design and implementation features of the undergraduate curriculum based on CDIO principles. The paper shares the experience of SibFU in designing and implementation of the modular curriculum for Metallurgy. Based on the backward design concept, which allows planning of the education starting from learning outcomes through learning techniques to the content of education, particular curriculum modules were defined. The modules, unbounded from specific disciplines, each covers a broad educational field in order to achieve integrated learning outcomes. A new curriculum model which contains seven modules is discussed. It includes: Humanities, Natural Sciences, Introduction to Engineering, Engineering, Industrial Training, Metallurgy, and Speciality modules. The proposed model allows clear structuring of the learning content and various learning methods integration. The paper emphasizes the structure of the curriculum modules and specific learning outcomes which in total facilitates students’ engineering thinking and professional skills. The learning outcomes of the modules are formed in appliance with Russian Federal Educational Standards, CDIO Syllabus, and requirements of university industrial partners. The paper exemplifies the implementation of two modules which are innovative for Metallurgy programme: focused on soft-skills training – “Introduction to Engineering” and focused on hard-skills – “Industrial Training”. In conclusion the results of the implementation of CDIO-based Metallurgy programme during the first year of CDIO initiative at SibFU are discussed. The analysis shows the improvement of learning process and outcome control due to flexibility of modular curriculum design. Moreover, the proposed educational approach enables comprehensive learning and human resources administration such as modules arrangement and teaching staff mobility.

Proceedings of the 12th International CDIO Conference, Turku, Finland, June 12-16 2016