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Inter and multidisciplinarity in engineering education

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Abstract

After reviewing the concepts of trans, inter and multidisciplinarity, the paper discusses the relevance of inter and multidisciplinary approaches to engineering education at undergraduate level, specially taking into account the continuing tendency for specialization of engineering degree curricula. This tendency is substantiated by a detailed analysis of the evolution in the last 30 years of the Mechanical Engineering degree syllabus at Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP). A 2-year multidisciplinary project developed at FEUP is presented as a case study. This project involved students and faculty from five Departments of FEUP, as well as from other institutions, in the joint exploration of practical engineering problems.

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Acknowledgements

The author wishes to express his gratitude to the Dean of FEUP for having believed in the Project and to all EMPE project colleagues who have made results and photos available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    J. M. M. C. Marques

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  1. J. M. M. C. Marques
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Correspondence to J. M. M. C. Marques.

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Marques, J.M.M.C. Inter and multidisciplinarity in engineering education. Int J Mech Mater Des 4, 229–237 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10999-008-9056-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10999-008-9056-4

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