STRATEGIES TO BRING UNIVERSITY EDUCATION TO SOCIETY: FROM THE FUTURE STUDENT TO THE GRADUATE

Throughout the 2015/16 academic year, the Degree in Agroalimentary Engineering and the Rural Environment, at the Higher Polytechnic School, Milanera campus, of the University of Burgos included a series of innovative teaching strategies to facilitate the integration of its newly enrolled students in the life of the university.
The aim is to cultivate a new awareness, stressing the need to present this Degree as an attractive profession to society, as one that solves problems and imparts values such as creativity and team work, as well as the personal benefits and the technical skills associated with these studies.
The Agroalimentary Engineer combines knowledge of multiple disciplines, as this discipline involves the engineering of both life and the environment. These professional engineers work with living beings, plants and animals for which they care and transform, to satisfy the basic needs of the population, designing and managing the installations and technologies that permit us to optimize our natural resources.
The activities are of a qualitative type, allowing us to explain, describe, discuss and explore future avenues for students. Their planning covers different areas of action, which range from informative visits to the direct involvement of students in interactive workshops and competitions.
The following activities are highlighted on the course: Open-Doors Day, to become familiar in a general way with the School and its facilities; a program of visits by university staff to Secondary School Centres and Training Cycles to familiarize potential students with different aspects of the Degree; participation in the workshop “A World under your Feet” that involves an initial contact with some of the most emblematic aspects of Green Engineering; participation in the Agrifood, Agro-environmental and Forestry Olympics at regional and national events; attendance at the 16th Agricultural Machinery Fair with an information stall in the fairground; activities in the Shadowing and Odysseus programmes organized by various university Vice-Rectorates as an attractive component for future students.
As a result of these activities, we have noted greater interest among firms and organizations in the Degree in Agroalimentary Engineering and the Rural Environment at the University of Burgos and they are also expected to increase the enrolment of students on the Degree course.