Impact of CDIO framework pedagogical approach adoption on the student learning and experience

In 2018, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) welcomed its first cohort of BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineers, who graduated in 2022. Subsequently, the inaugural cohorts of BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineers, BEng (Hons) Biomedical Engineers, and BEng (Hons) Product Design Engineers completed their programs in 2023. The first cohort of Engineering Manufacturing Degree Apprentices is anticipated to graduate in 2024. The curriculum, adopting the Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate (CDIO) pedagogical approach formulated by Crawley in 2004 (Crawley et al., 2014), has evolved to emphasize good practice industrial engagement (Fortin et al., 2019). This evolution encompasses curriculum co-design (Sparsø et al., 2011), guest lectures (Törngren et al., 2016), and industry-sourced CDIO capstone projects (Manna et al., 2023).

CCCU's unique curriculum is designed to cultivate 'Industry Ready' engineering graduates through industry-sourced CDIO projects spanning from the foundation year to the final year. This approach facilitates practical application and evaluation of learning, nurturing both technical and employability skills for future employment. This paper presents the initial results of a project evaluating the impact of CCCU's CDIO pedagogical approach on students and employers.

The research methodology, following Cohen et al.'s (2017) quantitative and qualitative active learning approach, employs surveys to gauge student and employer perceptions, comprising Likert scale and qualitative questions. The survey results will guide subsequent qualitative interviews, aiming to comprehend experiences associated with CDIO, and address the following research hypotheses:

1. Has CCCU's CDIO enriched student learning and experience?

2. Has CCCU's CDIO improved graduate prospects?

3. Is CCCU's CDIO approach valued by employers/industry?

The paper will present the initial evaluation results, draw conclusions, and identify any optimizations of the CDIO approach's efficacy in improving learning outcomes and employer relevance.