Projects with Underserved Communities: Case Study of an International Project-Based Service-Learning Program
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 145, Issue 2
Abstract
Many universities are embracing service learning due to the demand by the current generation of students for these types of programs and the opportunity to provide experience with team-building, multidisciplinary work, and cross-cultural communication. In response to student interest, the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin developed a curriculum-based program, Projects with Underserved Communities (PUC), in which student teams select, design, and implement projects in rural low-income communities abroad. In contrast to conventional design courses, a design and build program like PUC involves complex team organization, interaction with many stakeholders, and careful selection of a project to optimize the chances of successful implementation. A new course was developed that focused on these issues. In this paper, a case study of PUC is discussed with particular emphasis on the elements of this first course. One team, which worked on a project in Guatemala, is discussed to illustrate how the learning materials are used. Lessons learned from the first 8 years of PUC are presented, as well as results of a participant survey on skills acquired.
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Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 145 • Issue 2 • April 2019
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 21, 2017
Accepted: Jul 18, 2018
Published online: Nov 23, 2018
Published in print: Apr 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Apr 23, 2019
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