The 2018 PBL International Research Symposium was held at Tsinghua University in China from October 19 to 21. The theme was “Innovation, PBL and competency in Engineering Education”. PBL is a learner-centric approach which is used in research to integrate theory and practice to achieve more viable solutions to specific problems. DTU was the only Vietnamese university to participate.
DTU lecturers at the 2018 International Symposium
Two hundred experts, researchers and lecturers from well-known institutes and universities from twenty countries, including Colombia, Denmark, China, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and so on, attended. The delegates debated key issues and shared their experiences relating to PBL. Topics discussed included curriculum and course design, facilitator roles, and applications of PBL in technology education, virtual learning, large groups, collaboration between universities and industries, and the challenges involved in the implementation of PBL across various disciplines around the world.
59 papers were submitted by 137 researchers and lecturers. DTU presented three papers on PBL applications in Economics and Social Sciences, which were well received by the attendees. These were:
- The use of problem-based learning in teaching International Business, in conjunction with the latest shared study materials from partners in the USA. Presenters were Nguyen Le Giang Thien, Tran Tuan Dat and Nguyen Thi Tuyen Ngon.
- The suitability of project-based learning in tertiary education in Vietnam and the role of the main agents, by Cao Ngo Thuy Duyen.
- Mixing facilitator roles to enhance PBL and the lessons learned from teaching Accounting at DTU, by Thu Hoang, and Huong Nguyen.
DTU lecturers present at the symposium
Ms. Nguyen Le Giang Thien said: “We have gained a clearer understanding of the role of the lecturer when applying PBL to their subject, and PBL workgroup methods. We learned about the role of the Facilitator, by playing the 'Murder Game', and attended panel and debating sessions. The symposium will enable all the delegations to modify and upgrade their current teaching methods to improve education at DTU and elsewhere.”
(Media Center)