Quality criteria for mathematical models in relation to models' purposes:Their usefulness in higher engineering eduaction

A taxonomy of eight quality criteria for mathematical models was developed for the common basic modelling course in the innovated BSc curriculum of the Eindhoven University of Technology. First year engineering students of all disciplines reflected on their modelling group projects, answering the question how their models could be improved, using the criteria. The students were also asked to indicate the purpose(s) of their models from a list of 16 purposes. This study explores the purposes’ and criteria’s usefulness, defined as relevance combined with understandability. The purpose of optimization proved to be most relevant, followed by analysis, prediction (what), and verification.The criteria of specialization, genericity, scalability, distinctiveness, and convincingness proved to be useful, the criteria of audience, impact, and surprise did not