The Master's programme in Problem Based Learning in Engineering and Science is aimed at faculty staff at institutions within engineering and science who want to change to Problem Based Learning, or for faculty staff who are interested in learning more about PBL.

PBL Change Agents

The overall aim of this Master’s programme is to support participants in achieving competences that will allow them to act as change agents in the introduction of problem based and project organised learning at the level of a single course as well as at the level of a curriculum or an institution within the context of engineering and science education, addressing diverse groups of students.

In order to achieve this aim, the MPBL programme has been designed according to the PBL principles, i.e. it is problem based and project organised. Participants work in teams with educational experiments designed to solve real-life educational problems, preferably located within their own teaching practice.

Degree Designation

The completed Master's programme entitles participants to the title:

• Master i problembaseret læring i ingeniør- og naturvidenskab (Danish)
• Master in Problem Based Learning in Engineering and Science (English).

The MPBL programme is based on a combination of academic, problem-oriented and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning. Teaching formats include but may not be limited to the following methods:

• Online lectures
• Web mediated project work
• Online workshops
• Self-study and readings
• Web mediated exercises (individually and in groups)
• Facilitation feedback
• Self and group reflection
• Individual portfolio work

In this programme advanced teaching and learning tools, including E-learning and video conferencing tools, will be used intensively.

MPBL Study Form

A semester in the MPBL programme includes a problem based project and two courses, the main study activity being the project. In the project, theory meets practice. The project is at the core in the MPBL programme.

Learning activities supporting the project are: Facilitation, readings, discussions, peer learning, reflections, courses etc.

Courses

The main aim of the MPBL courses is to support the project work. Each course in the MPBL programme has a room on the MPBL platform with a space for each course session and a discussion forum for each session. Courses are individually assessed but study groups are arranged for peer learning and discussions.

Projects

In a PBL curriculum the point of departure for the project is an ill-structured real-life problem, preferably taken from the participants’ own teaching practice or experience. Project proposals have to be within the frame of the learning outcomes specified for the semester project and have to be approved by a member of the academic staff. Participants are encouraged to work in project groups to the extent possible. In semester 1 where the project takes the form of writing an individual teaching portfolio study groups will be organised. Each project group will have a facilitator who is an academic staff member from UCPBL. Facilitation may take place as synchronous on-line facilitation or as asynchronous facilitation by e-mail.

The outcome of any project work is a written project report and a process analysis. This documentation forms the basis of an oral assessment of the participants’ performance with the aim of showing that participants have achieved the learning outcomes of the project.

Online Environment

The MPBL programme is a fully online programme. Therefore as a participant you need to have access to the necessary hardware and software. The MPBL learning platform is based on Moodle, a widely used open source Learning Management System supporting social constructivist learning.

The online environment gives you advantages, such as studying where and when you please and getting access to a huge repository of resources via the Internet. You should, however also be aware of the disadvantages, the main one being the lack of physical presence of and face-to-face communication with co-participants and lecturers.

The first semester consists of:

PROJECT MODULE:
- Teaching portfolio (5 ECTS)

COURSE MODULES:
- Course 1: Learning theories and curriculum development (5 ECTS)
- Course 2: Collaborative problem design (5 ECTS)

The second semester consists of:

PROJECT MODULE:
- Design and planning of a PBL module (10 ECTS)

COURSE MODULE:
- Course 3: PBL models, facilitation and blended learning (5 ECTS)

The third semester consists of:

PROJECT MODULE:
- Implementation of PBL (10 ECTS)

COURSE MODULE:
- Course 4: Educational evaluation and management of change (5 ECTS)

The fourth semester consists of:

PROJECT:
- Management of Change and Change Agency (15 ECTS)

This project is the final Master's project with which the participants complete their full Master's programme in Problem Based Learning in Engineering and Science.

The aim of the MPBL Master's project is to support the participants in developing competences to manage complex and unpredictable educational change processes at institutional level, within the context of engineering and science education.

The Master's project builds on knowledge obtained during semesters 1-3.

Read more about the semester here.

Course from the first semester of the MPBL programme.

Read more about the course here.

Course from the first semester of the MPBL programme.

Read more about the course here.

Read more about the semester here.

Course from the second semester of the MPBL programme.

Read more about the course here.

Read more about the semester here.

Admission to the MPBL programme presupposes a relevant higher education at least at Bachelor level and a minimum of two years of relevant, professional experience in teaching or similar occupation following completion of the qualifying exam.

Relevant bachelor educations are for example:

• Bachelor of Engineering within any field of engineering
• Bachelor of Science within any field of science
• Bachelor of Education.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

You must have written and oral command of English sufficient to participate in online group discussions and an ability to and experience with synchronous and asynchronous communication using ICT.

The following English language proficiency requirements must be fulfilled and documented:

Danish Students

English secondary school/high school level B (gymnasialt B-niveau)

International Students

You can read about the English language requirements here.

Admission to Single Courses

The admission requirements for the full Master's programme also apply for applicants to single courses offered from the MPBL programme.

Admission to Single Semesters

1. semester:

The admission requirements are the same as to the full Master's programme (see above).

2. semester:

It is possible to follow the semester as a single semester if you have already completed the 1. semester of the MPBL programme.

3. semester:

It is possible to follow the semester as a single semester if you have already completed the 1. and 2. semesters of the MPBL programme.

Exemption from Admission Requirements

Aalborg University may allow admission to applicants who do not fulfil the admission requirement of a relevant higher education at least at bachelor level but who Aalborg University has assesed has documented academic qualifications that equates a relevant bachelor programme.

The requirement of relevant professional experience cannot be exempted.

Read about how to log in and apply through the Application Portal. 

Not scheduled.

The Master' programme starts in the beginning of September, given sufficient participants.

The spring semester starts in the beginning of February.

The Semesters

Duration: One semester (half-a-year)
ECTS-points: 15

The Courses

Duration: One semester
ECTS-points: 5

The Projects

Duration: One semester
ECTS-points: 5-15

The Master in Problem Based Learning in Engineering and Science (MPBL) is a fully online, highly interactive and flexible e-learning programme.

Apart from the tuition fee, other expenses may be anticipated. Please contact the programme secretary for information about other expenses.