Student Competitions as a Learning Method with a Sustainable Focus in Higher Education: The University of Seville “Aura Projects” in the “Solar Decathlon 2019”

Rafael Herrera-Limones,Julia Rey-Pérez,Miguel Hernández-Valencia,Jorge Roa-Fernández

doi:10.3390/su12041634

Rafael Herrera-Limones, Julia Rey-Pérez + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041634

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Feb 21, 2020
Citations: 19	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidad de Sevilla

Abstract

In recent times, teaching in higher education has undergone a significant transformation. Current advances and innovative proposals in educational science research are centred around a transdisciplinary approach, the so-called integrated curriculum and the incorporation of the transversal concept of sustainability. In summary, the so-called learning processes through problem-solving. The Solar Decathlon Competition is the most prestigious international university student competition for sustainable habitat. The aim of this article is to show how the Aura Strategy, developed by the University of Seville Solar Decathlon Team to participate in the Solar Decathlon 2019 Latin America and Europe competitions, is aligned with the aforementioned proposals. Among the results, the generation of a transforming teaching network of the departmental structures in the University of Seville is to be highlighted. These transformations in teaching lead students to new, broader and more holistic approaches to study, as well as new capabilities and skills. The question of interdisciplinarity requires new tools and research lines to achieve successful implementation in higher education, and the participation in the Solar Decathlon Competition is one of them.

Highlights

In recent times, teaching in higher education has undergone a significant transformation, in which current advances and the most innovative proposals in educational science research are focused on a transdisciplinary approach [1,2,3,4]
One of the longest-standing trends in educational innovation, and that which has given the best results in terms of learning, is the group of proposals known as the integrated curriculum [5,6]
Advantages and disadvantages that became evident after the experience of participation in the competition

Summary

Introduction

In recent times, teaching in higher education has undergone a significant transformation, in which current advances and the most innovative proposals in educational science research are focused on a transdisciplinary approach [1,2,3,4]. One of the longest-standing trends in educational innovation, and that which has given the best results in terms of learning, is the group of proposals known as the integrated curriculum [5,6]. This commitment to transversality implies dealing with problems from the perspective of different disciplines. To break away from the traditional organisation of teaching based on the master classes of a single discipline, a move towards a more integrated vision is proposed This should correspond to the logic of the disciplines and follow other logics which are more closely linked to the usefulness of what is being taught and the needs of the world we inhabit. Further to the transdisciplinarity of the integrated curriculum, other methods such as enquiry-based learning have recently been gaining prominence in the different fields of higher education [9,10,11]

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