A decade of teaching systems engineering to Bachelor students

Abstract

The paper treats a setup for introducing systems engineering to undergraduate (Bachelor) students. The teaching module challenges students, and provides them with ample opportunity to employ the systems engineering process, tools and thinking. Through reflection, the students make the learning outcomes explicit. Based on the setup we recommend to teach a technically challenging subject adjacent to the systems engineering course. By having the students work in large groups on a challenging, open and vague problem statement, they learn to appreciate the systems engineering way of working.

Challenging Architects in Education: the Smart Environments Integration Project

“…From the outset, the UT program aimed at educating designers, well-grounded in technology, that will be able to "Create the Future" (Eger, Lutters et al 2004). In the bachelor program, time is spent on introducing students to systems engineering (Bonnema, Lutters-Weustink et al 2005, Bonnema, Lutters-Weustink et al 2016. With the introduction to systems design and engineering (SDE) in place, the challenge is to further educate those students interested in SDE in the master program.…”

“…There are modules that for instance go into user-centered design, product realization, and smart products. One of such IDE modules is described in detail in (Bonnema, Lutters-Weustink et al 2016). That module in slightly modified form is also used in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and other programs.…”

“…The obligatory module "Systems in Context", described in the earlier mentioned (Bonnema, Lutters-Weustink et al 2016) forms the main SE teaching. Please refer to that paper for in-depth information.…”