Training engineering students in energy efficiency and sustainability through the competency-based approach

Abstract

One of the key tools for the proper use of energy is energy efficiency. In the training process of Engineering students at the University of Playa Ancha, the transversal course of "Energy Efficiency" is offered every academic semester, this research analyzes the learning results obtained by students during three years (2018, 2019 and 2020), equivalent to 5 consecutive semesters, with a universe of 90 young people from 5 careers: Environmental Civil Engineering, Industrial Civil, Environmental, Computer Science and Statistics, linking Competencies achieved through the application of active teaching methodologies: Problem-Based Learning and Project- Based Learning, with analysis of practical cases and with the use of gamification tools, which promote collaborative work between them, instruments are applied (surveys and interviews) at the beginning of the semester, in the middle and at the end of it: the main results showed that: the 3 0% of the students at the beginning of the semester express their interest in this type of strategies, 60% consider that this way of teaching undergraduate courses should become more widespread, in the middle of each semester, 85% indicate that they have internalized the knowledge and is already using the skills and abilities acquired.