A large percentage of the mechanical engineering students at the University of North Florida have been extensively exposed to transformative learning opportunities over the past five years. Through collaborative efforts with local industry and other institutions, the students have had the opportunity to utilize their engineering knowledge in real-world applications. Students engaged in these projects have improved several of their technical skills in, for example, computer-aided engineering, design, mechanical testing, and analysis. Nontechnical objectives of these projects include improving communication skills, learning how an engineering firm functions, and learning how to research relevant data. Technical and non-technical objectives were met by students working on engineering projects sponsored by partnering collaborators. The collaborators defined the engineering project and the students, under the supervision of faculty, carried out the project tasks. This paper discusses a number of different transformative learning opportunities for students; it discusses the educational objectives and skills developed for each project, and it describes how the students are better prepared for their future careers through their involvement with the program. Many of the students have found rewarding engineering careers and a few have continued to pursue graduate degrees. Furthermore, the paper discusses how the efforts of this program are aligned with the mission of the University in that it heavily emphasizes transformational learning opportunities for the whole university community.
Addressing global sustainability challenges: a qualitative study on factors that promote transformative learning in engineering students
