Innovative learning in engineering education: Experimenting with short-term project-oriented research and project-based learning

This paper presents a reflection on the results of an experimental curricula design which combined short-term project-oriented research and project-based learning in the field of electrical engineering and renewable energy. The experiment was based on the application of the Project-Based Learning methodology. The problem to be solved arose from a local company and was carried out at a master level in the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança in Portugal. This experiment aimed to contribute to the innovation and modernization of educational projects of professionally oriented programmes in higher education institutions. It also demonstrated some of the advantages and challenges of learning innovation. Feedback from the students was encouraging but the results of this experiment mainly pointed to the need that everyone must be prepared for change. The study contributes to understanding both why and how we need to foster educational shift in electrical engineering to educate students and enhance their engineering skills for the twenty-first century.