Abstract

This article reports the experience of the collaboration between four departments of the Engineering Faculty at the University of Magallanes, during the implementation of a common project. The main objective of this project is to improve and update the higher education processes in the undergraduate programs offered by the faculty. In 2016, an interdisciplinary team self-styled EFEI-UMAG (Strengthening Team for the Engineering Education at the University of Magallanes) was formed by faculty members of the Computer Science, Chemical, Mechanical and Construction Engineering Departments inside the Engineering Faculty. This team convened with the goal to collaborate in the development of products that can be used in the training of the professionals, the research at university teaching and the self-education of their members. During the first year, the EFEI-UMAG was trained in Problem-Based Learning (PBL). The objective was to begin its implementation inside the different core courses offered by the faculty. Work meetings were coordinated with the different representatives of the industrial area; and, information on case problems was collected so they could be included in the core courses and those that are of interest for the companies. As result of these activities, concrete products were obtained such as set of cases and/or problems of the many branches of engineering. These can be used as incomes for the implementation of PBL in the faculty. Moreover, a PBL implementation manual was written for the faculty members who wish to begin to use this method in their classes in the future. Currently, in 2017, PBL is included in many core courses of the Engineering Faculty, and the first results have shown a positive evaluation both by academics and by students.