Evaluation of the biomass fractionation capability of the ultrafiltration permeate: A learning project for chemical engineering students

This paper presents a 6-month integrated learning project, suitable for chemical engineering students in their last academic course (4 years bachelor). Within the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), the performance of the project was established offering to the students the possibility of developing practical aspects studies in order to introduce them to the engineering profession. The general goals of the project have been to develop basic competences, such as the capability of finding and synthesizing the available information, the active participation in a team work, the improvement of the communications (oral and written) skill, the time management, the problem identification, strategy raising, the autonomy, in summary, to improve the students’ performance in multitask problem solving using a team work approach. The proposed educational objectives were achieved. The participant students were positive when asked whether, overall, the development of this project was “worth the effort” indicating as the most important benefit the developing of considerable indepth understanding and expertise in their work field.

► The educational project achieved the students’ encourage in active problem solving and strategy raising.
► Basic competences were improved: team work active participation, communications skills and time management.
► Students were introduced in practical aspects of the engineering profession.
► Students were familiarized with the typical activities of a chemical engineering laboratory.