Abstract:

Final year project is an essential element of the curriculum of any tertiary engineering department. Students are provided with the opportunity to resolve a realistic problem, thus being introduced to near-professional engineering practice. For this purpose, students need to apply knowledge from different areas and use methods, tools and techniques, which they have already learned during their studies. Nevertheless, final projects usually are theoretical essays, involving mathematical calculations and resulting in an extensive report followed by a presentation. The Machine Design Laboratory (MADLAB) of the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE) offered to small groups of students the opportunity to undertake final projects, during which, they designed and constructed real functional devices and machines that can be used in laboratory exercises. The students, during the projects, extensively applied engineering knowledge and proficiencies (hard skills) and they also developed and demonstrated generic skills (soft skills) that are necessary in a modern competitive professional environment.

Keywords:

Mechanical Engineering, final project, learning by doing, soft skills.