Problem-based Approach to a Civil Engineering Education

Problem-based learning (PBL) is seen as a way of developing a rounded engineer, one who excels not only in technical accomplishments, but also in communication, teamwork, leadership, innovation and initiative. PBL develops all these skills through a process of problem solving in a resource-rich environment explored by teams of students. This paper shows how a PBL approach can be applied in the development of a new civil engineering course. It does this on a broad scale (looking at the sequence of subjects required in the degree), and on a smaller scale, to show how individual subjects could be implemented.