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A National Collaboration Process: Finnish Engineering Education for the Benefit of People and Environment

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Abstract

The key stakeholders of the Finnish engineering education collaborated during 2006–09 to reform the system of education, to face the challenges of the changing business environment and to create a national strategy for the Finnish engineering education. The work process was carried out using participatory work methods. Impacts of sustainable development (SD) on engineering education were analysed in one of the subprojects. In addition to participatory workshops, the core part of the work on SD consisted of a research with more than 60 interviews and an extensive literature survey. This paper discusses the results of the research and the work process of the Collaboration Group in the subproject of SD. It is suggested that enhancing systematic dialogue among key stakeholders using participatory work methods is crucial in increasing motivation and commitment in incorporating SD in engineering education. Development of the context of learning is essential for improving skills of engineering graduates in some of the key abilities related to SD: systemic- and life-cycle thinking, ethical understanding, collaborative learning and critical reflection skills. This requires changing of the educational paradigm from teacher-centred to learner-centred applying problem- and project-oriented active learning methods.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the significant work done by the key stakeholders of the Finnish engineering education in the three development and anticipation projects during past 15 years. Especially we want to thank the Members of the National Collaboration Group for their efforts during years 2007–09. The authors are also grateful to the Steering Group of the research project on SD who actively participated in commenting the research throughout the project between May 2008 and April 2009, and naturally all 66 interviewees who made the research possible. The research was funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and TEK. In addition, the financial support of the VALUE - Doctoral Program in Integrated Catchment and Water Resources Management - is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 541, 33101, Tampere, Finland

    A. Takala

  2. Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK, Ratavartijankatu 2, 00520, Helsinki, Finland

    K. Korhonen-Yrjänheikki

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  1. A. Takala
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  2. K. Korhonen-Yrjänheikki
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Correspondence to A. Takala.

Additional information

Draft of this paper was first presented at the Engineering Education in Sustainable Development EESD’10 Conference, Gothenburg 22 September 2010.

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Takala, A., Korhonen-Yrjänheikki, K. A National Collaboration Process: Finnish Engineering Education for the Benefit of People and Environment. Sci Eng Ethics 19, 1557–1569 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-011-9330-y

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