Engineering Students Research Articles

Integrating Art into Engineering: An Educational Gaps and Solutions

This paper explores the deficiencies in art education within engineering schools in Hebei and proposes strategies for integrating art to enhance creativity and innovation. The paper identifies key gaps in the current curriculum, including a lack of interdisciplinary courses and insufficient institutional support for creativity-driven initiatives. Drawing on existing literature and successful case studies, the proposed solutions include integrating art into engineering courses, fostering professional development, and enhancing collaboration between disciplines. The long-term benefits of this integration include improved problem-solving skills, enhanced creativity, and broader professional competencies. By examining Hebei’s educational landscape, this paper presents a model that could inspire similar reforms in engineering education globally.

Uranium in groundwaters of North Kazakhstan

Relevance. The need to dentify the characteristics of the distribution of radioactive elements in the groundwater of Northern Kazakhstan. Aim. Generalization of available data on the geochemistry of groundwater and uranium and radon distribution in them using the example of the northern regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Methods. Generalization of long-term hydrogeochemical research and compilation of an electronic data bank on the territory of Northern Kazakhstan. A laboratory study of the chemical composition of groundwater was carried out at the Research Laboratory of Hydrogeochemistry of the School of Natural Resources Engineering of Tomsk Polytechnic University. Measurements of 222Rn contents in waters were carried out using the Alfarad Plus complex in the Laboratory of Hydrogeology of Sedimentary Basins of Siberia, Institute of Geology and Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Results. The groundwater of aquifers of different ages, distributed in the territory of Northern Kazakhstan (North Kazakhstan uranium province), was studied. Two geochemical sets of groundwater were identified. The first is characterized by the dominance of HCO3– and Mg2+ in the water composition, and the second by Cl– and Na+. A change in composition and an increase in the value of total mineralization from 0,1 to 49 g/dm3, in the direction from north to south, indicate the development of continental salinization. In natural waters of the first group, uranium content varies from 0.065 to 16000 μg/dm3 and radon activity from 4 to 3885 Bq/dm3. For sodium chloride waters of the second set, concentrations can reach 32500 μg/dm3, and radon activity is 6–59 Bq/dm3, since the emanating reservoir (granitoids) is located to the north – at a distance of 80–100 km. Naturally, granitoid massifs of the studied region are sources of uranium. Their drainage by the river network leads to its removal and concentration on geochemical barriers in the groundwater of the Neogene-Quaternary aquifer. This distribution of radioactive elements is associated with the high migration ability of uranium in solution in the form of uranyl ion in oxidizing geochemical conditions.

The Next Generation of Learning: AI Mentorship for a Transformative Educational Experience

Developers of this augmented reality-based artificial intelligence education program aim at augmenting student engagement in learning through the incorporation of virtual mentors and the overall experience being made engaging, efficient, and personalized. Therefore, the application provides contextual support, tailored learning pathways, and real-time feedback that significantly enhance users' understanding of complex AI concepts with customized AI avatars and augmented reality technologies. These artificial intelligence mentors and assistants act as learning facilitators for both engineering and non-engineering students while enhancing the educational experience. The software features natural language processing to enable smooth communication; it introduces gamification into the courseware, adds quizzes, and provides rewards for a better learning experience, among other features

Reasons Pertaining to Substance Abuse among Undergraduates in Chennai

BACKGROUND: Substance abuse and dependence among undergraduates in India are very concerning as they are next in line to contribute to the social and economic needs of the country. The alarming increase in substance use also contributes to various physical and mental illnesses. OBJECTIVES: This research aims to identify the root cause and initial indulgence in substance consumption to prevent the increase of usage and loss of human potential to enhance the quality of society in the upcoming years. METHODS: An observational study with a cross-sectional design was done among 174 participants. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was done among undergraduates aged between 19-22 in Medical, Dental, Engineering, and Arts and Science College students studying in Chennai. A Drug and Alcohol (DAP) questionnaire for screening of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis along with a Semi-Structured Performa about socio-demographic factors was used to collect the data. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version-21, Chi-Square Test descriptive for finding out the outcome variable. RESULT: About 62.7% tried alcohol/smoking for the first time because they were ‘curious’ followed by 29.4% stating that it was due to ‘emotional disturbances’, 23.5% due to ‘having free time’, 19.6% because they were ‘stressed’,17.6% due to ‘college’ as the three most chosen reasons. Among 45 participants who were consuming substances, 32.4% felt neglected at home. Of the remaining 133 who did not consume any substances when asked the reason for their non-consumption, 28.7% were ‘not interested', 15.7% said it was due to ‘self-control’ and 5.6% said ‘both’. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that ‘curiosity’ was the reason for the initial consumption of the substance but the reason for the continuation of the habit is because of emotional disturbances, stress, or feeling neglected at home and by society. Prevention and treatment of substance abuse and dependence should consider these factors. This can help lay better intervention and relapse strategies for the upcoming generation.

Correlation between Civil Engineering Student’s Performance in Mathematics and Academic Success

This research aims to examine the widely accepted paradigm that proficiency in mathematics significantly influences the academic success of Civil Engineering students. Using data from 119 students of the 2018 and 2019 cohorts at Universitas Mercu Buana, the study analyzes the correlation between their performance in Mathematics courses (Mathematics 1, 2, and 3) and their academic success, as measured by timely graduation and GPA. The data were processed using the Spearman correlation method, given its non-normal distribution as determined by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The results indicate a significant positive correlation (r = 0.313, p = 0.001) between mathematical performance and academic success, with students achieving higher mathematics scores more likely to graduate on time. These findings suggest that while mathematical ability is a critical factor in academic success, other elements such as motivation, teaching methods, and external support should also be considered in improving student outcomes.

The Perceived Value of Proving in Learning Engineering Mathematics and its Dependence on Motivation and Study Habits

This study reports on engineering students (N=369) from two Swedish universities and focuses on their perceived value of proving in learning engineering mathematics and some factors that may explain the observed variation in the perceived value. Our findings show that there is no significant difference in the perceived value between female and male students. In general, proving is not highly valued, and students are not confident in their skills in proving, except for proving by mathematical induction. However, students’ motivation in mathematics correlates with the perceived value and certain study habits are more regular among those students who appreciate proving as a suitable method for learning mathematics. Examples of such study habits include actively communicating with mathematics course teachers and reading the course textbook both before and after lectures.

Investigative and collaborative experimental activities using simple purification of curcuminoids by column chromatography

This work describes the use of turmeric in the teaching concepts and laboratory techniques of organic chemistry to students in introductory classes of licentiate, bachelor’s and industrial chemistry courses, as well as to pharmacy and chemical engineering students at Universidade Federal Fluminense, in Niterói/RJ/Brazil. Considering investigative and collaborative activities and Vygotsky theory, the discussed concepts were everyday natural products, green chemistry, purification and separation of organic substances, molecular interactions, organic compound extraction techniques, and thin-layer and column chromatography. The activities were applied for four 3-hour classes for 31 students in 7 introductory organic chemistry laboratory classes for Chemistry and for 43 students in 4 experimental organic chemistry classes for Pharmacy and Chemical Engineering courses, in the years 2022–23. The teaching-learning process methodology involved 4 moments/classes: a) discussions about organic chemistry; b) discontinuous extraction of turmeric and thin-layer chromatography; c) column chromatography; and d) discussions about results and the learning process. After the sequence of classes, it was possible to observe the students’ motivation with the ease of separating curcuminoids and the understanding of the relationship between theoretical concepts and practice, as well as the understanding of the importance of low waste production.

Enhancing Learning Engagement in the Flipped Classroom using a Video-Annotation Tool

In the realm of academia, there has been a burgeoning interest in examining student engagement within the context of the flipped classroom approach, particularly at the higher education level. Nevertheless, research pertaining to a pivotal facet of this pedagogical methodology—namely, student engagement during the individualized, at-home preparatory phase—remains limited. Within this void, the primary objective of this study is to delve into the prospective benefits offered by a video annotation tool in augmenting students’ level of engagement during this autonomous study phase. Throughout the course of this investigation, a bespoke questionnaire was crafted, grounded in a multifaceted framework for evaluating student engagement, with a specific emphasis on dissecting four distinct dimensions: behavioral, emotional, agentive, and cognitive. This questionnaire is geared towards gauging student engagement within the domain of the Flipped Classroom model that relies on video-based instructional content—a facet heretofore poorly explored within the scholarly literature. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected by administering the aforementioned questionnaire to a cohort of 68 undergraduate engineering students at Politecnico di Milano (Italy), all within the authentic context of a case study. The outcomes stemming from this empirical inquiry showcase a noteworthy enhancement in student engagement, with particular prominence accorded to the realms of emotional and agentive engagement. Moreover, this study establishes that the interactivity and proactive involvement necessitated by the video annotation tool do not obstruct students’ behavioral and cognitive engagement levels. In summation, this research endeavors to illuminate the potentiality of bridging a pivotal juncture in the Flipped Classroom paradigm, specifically the phase characterized by independent at-home study. This bridge is facilitated by the utilization of a video annotation tool designed to heighten student engagement. This transformative approach effectively transmutes the traditionally passive at-home study phase of the Flipped Classroom into an active experience, thereby enhancing the overall efficacy of this pedagogical approach.

A Case Study of an Antibiotic Discovery Laboratory Autonomous Learning Assignment—An Evaluation of Undergraduate Students’ Disciplinary Bias

Current higher education trends are moving towards interdisciplinary curricula to provide new tools for solving complex issues. However, course design and learning tracks still create divisions between scientific disciplines. This study aimed to evaluate the disciplinary bias of second-year undergraduate students of biotechnology engineering in the organic chemistry laboratory class through a laboratory setting involving blended disciplines. An experiment on antibiotic discovery that integrates parallel and combinatorial organic chemistry syntheses with microbiology techniques was chosen. As a part of an activity, students had free choice in designing the arrangement of the organic compounds and the two bacterial species by setting up the layout for a 96-well plate. The study visually analyzed students’ plate layouts (N = 74) according to discipline classification and the spatial arrangements of organic compounds (e.g., products and libraries). The results identified four themes that are suggested to reflect students’ vertical, lateral, and interdisciplinary thinking, as most were found to be in the procedural knowledge range and between Bloom’s application and analysis dimensions. Using this study’s thematic analysis methodology in chemistry and related educational fields can provide a pedagogical reflective tool and advance personalized teaching and interdisciplinarity.

Commuting violence: Social, mental and academic consequences. Is this concept necessary to adopt?

Abstract Introduction Violence has emerged as a pressing public health issue due to its global impact, prompting the need to coin the term ‘commuting violence’ (CV). This term refers to any form of aggression experienced by students traveling from the University to other locations such as their homes or vice versa, considering that this situation could have health and academic consequences for students. Objectives To determine the consequences associated with CV in university students. Methods A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted, including students from a Medical School in Veracruz, Mexico, from August to December 2023. Invitations to participate were extended to students of medicine, chiropractic, and radiology technology. Results A total of 279 participants with a mean age of 20 (±3.0) years were included. 89.6% of students perceive insecurity on their journey to the university, primarily due to the presence of suspicious individuals (93.9%); 70.6% of participants reported knowing a peer who has experienced CV, leading them to avoid certain streets (92.5%) to avoid it. Insecurity felt on the journey home from school showed a significant association (OR/CI95%) for anxiety due to JV of (7.2/3.2-16), stress due to CV of (11.1/4.74-25.9), and paranoia due to CV of (4.48/2.02-9.92). A total of 140 (50.2%) students reported experiencing CV, with the most frequent manifestations being sexual harassment (79.3%) and verbal harassment (57.8%), as well as two (1.4%) attempted rapes. Experiencing CV was positively associated with students avoiding class schedules before 8:00 a.m. (3.6/1.69-7.63) and after 6:00 p.m. (4.6/1.7-11.94), as well as absenteeism (7.37/2.51-21.67) and thoughts of dropping out (12.9/2.75-60.36) (p < 0.05). Conclusions PV is a relevant situation that exists within the well-being of students, impacting them both in anticipation and when faced with it. The concept of CV should be considered for use in future research. Key messages • We propose the concept of Commuting violence as an element to be taken into account since it has been demonstrated that this situation interferes with the academic activity of the students. • Commuting violence occurs during academic activities, so universities should propose actions to make students feel safe on their daily journey to the university.

Analysing Virtual Labs Through Integrated Multi-Channel Eye-Tracking Technology: A Proposal for an Explanatory Fit Model

This study deals with an analysis of the cognitive load indicators produced in virtual simulation tasks through supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques. The objectives were (1) to identify the most important cognitive load indicators through the use of supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques; (2) to study which type of task presentation was most effective at reducing the task’s intrinsic load and increasing its germane load; and (3) to propose an explanatory model and find its fit indicators. We worked with a sample of 48 health sciences and biomedical engineering students from the University of Burgos (Spain). The results indicate that being able to see the task before performing it increases the germane load and decreases the intrinsic load. Similarly, allowing students a choice of presentation channel for the task respects how they process information. In addition, indicators of cognitive load were found to be grouped into components of position, speed, psychogalvanic response, and skin conductance. An explanatory model was proposed and obtained acceptable fit indicators.

Engineering Academics and Students’ Views on the Phases of Teaching and Learning of Engineering Mathematics in an Antenna Design Course

An antenna design course, naturally, aims to teach students to produce an antenna device, which is a vital tool in technological development. Typically, this course is taught and designed in an abstract manner, which may be an inappropriate approach to teaching it. This approach could be due to engineering academics and students’ poor understanding of how to model mathematics concepts. As a result, antennae experts suggest that antenna technology is a difficult device when it comes to mathematical descriptions, which has resulted in a sudden loss of interest among students in a school of engineering. Thus, this paper reports on the four phases of teaching antenna design using mathematical modelling approaches, with the specific aim of resolving the difficulties encountered in teaching an antenna design course. In achieving this teaching, the study explains the approaches and impact of teaching Mathematical Modelling (MM) in antenna design among engineering academics. In this study, the sample population included one engineering academic and four engineering students. The data were collected using a qualitative research approach, utilising an interview guide and an open-ended questionnaire. Finally, the results of this study confirmed the four major phases of teaching antenna design using engineering mathematics.

Pemeriksaan Golongan Darah pada Anak dan Pemeriksaan Gula Darah pada Kelompok Usia Lanjut di Gereja Katolik Santu Petrus Pariti Kabupaten Kupang Tahun 2024

This community service activity was conducted at the Catholic Church of Santu Petrus Pariti, Kupang Regency, involving 124 participants for blood type examinations and 69 participants for blood pressure and glucose level tests. The event began with a retreat by the Medical Laboratory Technology students aimed at raising community awareness about health. A positive response was observed through the enthusiasm of the community, who actively asked questions, indicating that they gained new knowledge related to health examinations. In blood type examinations conducted at TK Santa Maria Pariti and SEKAMI, it was found that among 18 female and 22 male children, 5 participants had blood type A, 15 had blood type B, 17 had blood type O, and 1 had blood type AB. Additionally, glucose level tests revealed that 4 participants had normal glucose levels, while 65 had abnormal levels. Blood pressure tests among the elderly showed 16 with abnormal readings and 53 with normal readings. The examination results provided an initial overview of the health status of the local community, highlighting variations in blood types, glucose levels, and blood pressure conditions. This activity is expected to enhance awareness of the importance of regular health check-ups among the community.

Entrepreneurial Intention in Romanian Engineering Students: Expanding the Theory of Planned Behavior

This study analyzes the entrepreneurial intention of Romanian engineering students. We had a sample of 700 students (mean age = 23.14; SD = 2.92; 378 males and 322 females) who belonged to three technical universities and completed an online survey between October and December 2023. This research extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explore the factors influencing students’ entrepreneurial intentions. In addition to base TPB components, such as attitude, normative and perceived behavioral control factors, we considered curiosity and well-being. Three structural equation models were used, one after the other, through the method of partial least squares (PLS-EM). The results show that attitude, perceived control behavior and curiosity have a positive impact on entrepreneurial intention, whereas subjectivenorms, surprisingly, have a negative impact on it. Psychological well-being expressed through autonomy is not associated with entrepreneurial intention in our sample of students. This article contributes to a better understanding of entrepreneurial intention in engineering students.

Development and enhancement of spatial perception among university students for better retention

During the compilation of this article, the primary aim was the exploration of the available opportunities regarding the development and improvement of spatial perception, and the creation of a future plan for assessing the spatial intelligence of engineering students attending the University of Miskolc. After carefully studying several publications, the Barke-style test was chosen, which is showcased in detail in this article. In my version, the essence of the test would remain the same, only the the tasks would be altered, and the incoming engineering students would participate in the survey, in a way similar to the mathematical competency survey that already exists at the university. Depending on the results of the survey, my plans include the creation of recommendations as part of my research, aimed at strengthening spatial competency among the engineering students attending the University of Miskolc.

Sustainable development awareness and integration in higher education: a comparative analysis of universities in Central Asia, South Caucasus and the EU

Education for sustainable development in universities is shaping the agenda in this area, demanding continuous improvement in quality. There is a trend towards integrating sustainability issues and the implementation of sustainable development goals into higher education. Universities responsible for educating SD professionals must teach knowledge and develop skills in line with the SDGs. However, there is insufficient attention to this in educational programs; more often it is implemented through disparate initiatives. The article presents research conducted in universities in the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia) and the European Union (Italy, Bulgaria, Poland). The awareness of students and teachers about the SDGs, the problems of implementing SD were assessed, and ways to solve these problems were analyzed. Countries were divided into clusters for comparative analysis. The results show that students generally have limited knowledge about the global sustainable development goals, while teachers have a higher level of awareness. The article examines the contribution of education to raising students' awareness in the countries studied and their attitudes towards integrating sustainability into the curriculum. The questionnaire showed that the educational intervention significantly influences students’ intention to engage in sustainability. Overall, students demonstrate positive attitudes towards incorporating sustainability issues into their education. The results of a study conducted in higher education institutions in Central Asia, South Caucasus and the European Union showed that students are generally unaware of the sustainable development goals, their information received through the Internet, media and university studies is insignificant, while teachers are better informed. Students and teachers expressed the greatest concern about environmental, social and economic problems. At the same time, students of engineering, technical and medical fields are more informed about the SDGs compared to pedagogical and socio-humanitarian fields. To increase awareness, universities are encouraged to integrate sustainability education into various disciplines, conduct seminars, round tables, promote student participation in projects and research, and promote international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

Building bridges - Fostering collaborative education in training dental informaticians.

Dental informatics is an emerging discipline. Although the accreditation agency governing dental education programs asserts the importance of informatics as foundational knowledge, no well-defined dental informatics courses currently exist within the standard predoctoral dental curriculum. There is a nationwide lack of dental informatics academic programs. This training gap is due to a lack of qualified dental informaticians to impart knowledge on dental informatics. This paper aims to introduce a novel conceptual framework for an interdisciplinary dental informatics program in preparing students to become dental informaticians. In 2023, we developed a standalone graduate certificate program in dental informatics at Indiana University (IU) School of Dentistry in collaboration with IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering and IU Fairbanks School of Public Health. Feedback was collected through online surveys to assess course quality from students who took Introduction to Health Information in Dentistry. Feedback was analyzed qualitatively, utilizing a thematic analysis approach. Common responses relevant to dental informatics education were grouped into themes. Five major themes emerged during our analysis of the students' feedback: foundational knowledge and skills; experiential learning: learning by doing; access to resources and working on clinical information systems; health promotion through team-based learning; and retention of knowledge assessment and application. A conceptual framework was formulated through these themes as a guideline for future program improvement. This interdisciplinary educational program framework showed how students and faculty from various disciplines could collaborate, learn from each other, and bring in expertise from different domains. The collaboration happens in clinical, laboratory, and virtual settings to acquire hands on learning through practice and research projects. The developed conceptual framework aligned with the interdisciplinary nature of dental informatics. It can potentially be adopted by other interdisciplinary informatics programs in health and non-health care disciplines.

Development of a Hyperspectral Imaging Protocol for Painting Applications at the University of Seville

In the last decade, the hyperspectral imaging (HSI) method allowed performing non-invasive analysis in the field of cultural heritage. However, a considerable limitation was given by redundant and time-consuming features, with the necessary application of statistical algorithms and image-processing tools to extract relevant information. In this study, the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA) and the Group of Interdisciplinary Physics (GFI) of the School of Engineering (ETSI) of the University of Seville tested the application of three different hyperspectral cameras in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) range for the investigation of an ancient painting. A reference-based procedure was realised to build a starting personal library and to evaluate the best working conditions for non-invasive and non-destructive characterisation with data treatment using the commercially available software Evince® and Specim IQ® to apply, respectively, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model functions and the classification method. The evaluation of the protocol was tested by acquiring complementary information by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Ultraviolet Luminescence (UVL) imaging, and Infrared Reflectography (IRR). This exploration established a simplified protocol to analyse the large collection of paintings of the Archbishop’s Palace and the Cathedral of Seville.

Factors influencing the use of e-library resources by postgraduate engineering students at Kyambogo University in Uganda

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the use of e-library resources among postgraduate engineering students at Kyambogo University in Uganda to make suggestions on how to improve access to and use of e-library resources. The study adopted a survey research design to collect data from postgraduate engineering students. Following a census sampling strategy, data was obtained from 58 out of 80 registered postgraduate engineering students using online self-administered questionnaires. The findings revealed that the use of e-library resources by postgraduate engineering students was influenced by ease of use, convenience, level of awareness, and information search skills. However, access restrictions and high internet costs negatively affected e-library resources usage. It is the conclusion of the study that the use of e-library resources was largely influenced by personal factors. This study has implications on e-library resources collection development, policy development, and service delivery in academic libraries. The study bridges the knowledge gap in the use of e-library resources among postgraduate engineering students.

Exploring the Perception of the Impact of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) in the Generative AI Era in Engineering Education

Objective: This study explores students' perceptions of using Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) in the era of generative artificial intelligence as a learning resource in higher education. The specific objectives are: 1) to determine the current tools that students incorporate into their PLEs and 2) to identify students' perceptions of the use of PLEs for lifelong learning. Theoretical Framework: UNESCO and other institutions recognize lifelong learning as an essential competency for personal and professional development. Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) are considered effective tools for promoting self-directed learning, allowing students to manage their learning processes, especially with the advent of generative artificial intelligence technologies. Method: A qualitative study was conducted with 207 first-semester engineering students from a public university in Peru. Participants were introduced to a training program to develop their PLEs using various digital tools, including generative AI tools such as ChatGPT DALL-E. The instrument used to evaluate students' perceptions was the MUSIC model (Jones, 2009), which focuses on empowerment and usefulness. Results: The results indicate that more than 80% of the students positively perceive PLEs, considering them valuable and empowering tools for achieving their learning objectives. Integrating generative AI tools into PLEs is notable, as it provides a dynamic and personalized learning experience. Most students found PLEs helpful for their future and relevant for promoting lifelong learning skills. Research Implications: The research suggests that PLEs, especially when integrated with generative AI tools, positively impact self-directed learning and promote collaborative and social learning. These findings can inform the development of educational programs and policies that encourage using PLEs as a student-centered learning strategy. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the understanding of the role of PLEs in the context of higher education and generative artificial intelligence. It is one of the first studies to examine students' perceptions of using PLEs with generative AI tools, highlighting their potential to enhance learning autonomy and personalization.