Yesterday, the first cohort of 11 Durban University of Technology (DUT) professors and lecturers finished their training on project based learning and received their certificates. The training was delivered by Professor Christoph Maurer from the Munich University of Applied Sciences who currently serves as the DUT Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Prof Maurer said that the basic idea of the Train the Trainer format is to educate professors and lecturers in a peer to peer setting. This way a multiplication factor of 15 is achieved which means that 10 professors who received the training will educate 150 students in the Project Based Learning format. Going through with the participants all steps of the Project Based Learning process in practical exercises while giving advice how to deal with student teams in certain situations ensures the sustainability of the learning effect,” he stressed.

During the training the participants have indicated that they are prepared to run real projects from industry and organisations outside the University with their students. They have also learnt to apply a standard process to coach student teams in efficiently dealing with open problems, finding many creative solutions and evaluating these. From February 2020 the participants will start the first projects with their students.

The establishment of the DUT Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is one of the strategic projects supported by the DUT to embed entrepreneurship in the existing curriculum. The DVC Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo, who is also responsible for the Chair, thanked the participants for their dedication and successfully completing the programme.

“We look forward to creativity and innovation being embedded in their learning, teaching and research engagements,” she said.

Prof Moyo also thanked the Vice-Chancellor and DUT Executive Management for supporting this strategic initiative and investing in it both in terms of resources and time for Faculty. She also looks forward to the next cohort.

Pictured: The cohort of 11 Durban University of Technology (DUT) professors and lecturers finish their training on project based learning and receive their certificates.

Professor Sibusiso Moyo