Previously, most of the students at engineering education programs, had a practical background as craftsmen or similar. They therefore had a frame of reference from their practical work which certainly helped them see the connection between theory and technical systems and constructions which they are working on, and designing. In recent years the number of students with a practical background is reduced to approx. 10%, and the challenge helping students making the connection between theory and practice through teaching has become greater, as a theory.
Aarhus University School of Engineering has during the past two years participated in a research project together with, among others, Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, with the title Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice in Professional Education Programs1.
Some of the bachelor programs currently experience a decline in the number of applicants and an increasing drop-out rate. An inadequate theory-practice relation could be one of the causes of these problems, is the thesis of the research project. Many students experience a gap between theory and practice and find ‘theories’ irrelevant to the development of professional competencies.
The goal of the strategic research project is to generate research-based knowledge about how to develop a fruitful relation between theory and practice in professional education programs.
Four education programs are investigated, including Engineering Education Programs and as one of these, Aarhus University School of Engineering.