Project based learning: Real world experiential projects creating the 21st century engineer

Industry throughout the world are demanding engineering graduates that are better prepared to support their organizations. Project based learning (PBL) is being recognized as a pedagogical approach that gives engineering students an opportunity to learning by doing and applying their training to real world problems. PBL is implemented in many different styles. This paper describes one of the themes of PBL - the gradual transition from solving closed ended problems to addressing real world open ended problems. The ultimate project experience is described in a global international project which explores not only the technical challenges of an open project but also the challenges of working collaboratively with engineering students from different cultures.