UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN SHARE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Abstract

This paper describes a pilot collaboration between Queen’s University and Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology in Peterborough Ontario. Since 1994 Queen’s has offered projects where students learn by solving problems for fee paying industrial clients. Known as Technology Engineering and Management (TEAM) student participants form multidisciplinary teams to consult for business clients. In addition to engineering students, commerce and arts students have often participated in the teams. In the Applied Projects program at Fleming College, third year engineering technology student teams solve problems for enterprise sponsors. A pilot group of engineering technology students from Fleming College worked with students in two Queen’s University TEAM projects. In industrial practice, engineers and engineering technologists often collaborate on solving problems. This collaboration rarely occurs in an educational setting. In the 2002-2003 academic year the pilot exercise simulated the professional working relationship between engineers and technologists. This paper gives a description of the experience and the motivation to undertake this unique collaboration. The most important aspect of the presentation is a critical assessment of the University/College collaboration -- what worked, what problems arose, and what improvements are suggested.