Application of Circular Economy Techniques for Design and Development of Products through Collaborative Project-Based Learning for Industrial Engineer Teaching

Jaime González-Domínguez, Gonzalo Sánchez-Barroso, Francisco Zamora-Polo and Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo
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Jaime González-Domínguez: Industrial Engineering School, University of Extremadura, 06007 Badajoz, Spain
Gonzalo Sánchez-Barroso: Industrial Engineering School, University of Extremadura, 06007 Badajoz, Spain
Francisco Zamora-Polo: Design Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School, University of Seville, 41011 Seville, Spain
Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo: Project Engineering Section, Industrial Engineering School, University of Extremadura, 06007 Badajoz, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Collaborative project-based learning aims to get students to take responsibility for their knowledge processes. The objective of this research is to analyze the viability of applying circular economy techniques for the design and development of products, through learning based on collaborative projects in industrial engineering. A survey was carried out between 2015 and 2019 on final year students of industrial engineering in Spain, from five different academic years. The responses obtained were analyzed statistically. The results indicate that the students who had more previous knowledge about the circular economy, valued its relevance for the design and development of products as well as for the practice of the profession more. In addition, it was demonstrated that the implementation of circular economy strategies in the design and development of products through collaborative projects allows the acquisition of different knowledge: eco-design, product planning and distribution, reuse, recycling, etc. Moreover, most of the students considered that the circular economy should be a complementary discipline and a transversal competence.

Keywords: educational competences; project engineering; project management; higher education; competences; collaborative models; circular economy; SDG; project-based learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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