Achieving Competence-Based Curriculum In Engineering Education In Spain

5 tables, 5 figures, 26 pagesThe fact of placing competences and outcomes learning at the heart of the academic activity means overhauling the curricular architecture of higher education in Europe. Some universities have undergone important transformations moving toward a competence-based learning environment, while others maintain traditional curriculum packaged formats. In the realm of the European Higher Education Area, this paper examines the use of competence-based initiatives in curricular development for engineering degrees with special focus to the Spanish case. Although the concept of competence and competence-based learning have a long history in education and training research, these terms are still very diffuse and demand a clear conceptualization. In the first part of this paper, we provide a conceptual overview and a critical reflection of competences as implemented in a wide range of settings, including its origins, key concepts and definitions. Next, we discuss the purposes, principles, pitfalls, and processes that enable to define a map of competences within Engineering Education. Finally, we present a pilot project involving curriculum development and faculty enhancement within a competence-based learning initiative in Electronic Engineering

Développement d'une réaction chimique pour un nanolaboratoire

There is a growing interest among the scientific community to develop new technologies for adapting devices to the nanoscopic scale. This interest stems not only from the potential applications expected by going to the nanometre scale, but also from a basic interest in the new properties exhibited by materials when confined spatially. The goal of the project is thus to develop a nano-lab in which a catalytic reaction could be performed and monitored by fluorescence analyses. This nano-lab would allow us to study the behaviour of molecules (diffusion, reactivity...) when confined into a nanoscopic environment. The nano-lab consists in a nano-surface (silicon) that is designed thanks to linker (trichlorosilanes monolayer) able to be functionalized by a ligand (dipyridine moieties). The system of ligand has been synthesized and studied into the Tsuji-Trost allylic alkylation reaction and into the Tsuji-Trost alloc moieties deprotection reaction. Based on preliminary studies, BODIPY fluorophores were envisioned for monitoring the reaction by FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer). Then, because of synthetic issues due to the fragility of these organic dyes, we turned to fluorogenic substrates (coumarin) to eventually established the reaction system. The grafting of the catalyst onto the trichlorosilane monolayer has been studied in order to complete the building of the nano-lab.L’intérêt de la communauté scientifique pour le développement de nouvelles technologies à l’échelle nanoscopique est croissant. Cette préoccupation provient non seulement des applications potentielles de ces matériaux nanoscopiques mais aussi de leurs remarquables propriétés. Le but du projet est donc de développer un nanolaboratoire dans lequel une réaction catalytique sera réalisée et suivie par des analyses de fluorescence, ce qui nous permettra d’étudier le comportement des molécules (diffusion, réactivité…) dans un milieu nanoscopique. Le nanolaboratoire consiste en une nanosurface (silicium) modifiée par un espaceur (monocouche de trichlorosilane) susceptible d’être fonctionnalisé par un ligand (de type dipyridine). Le système de ligand a été synthétisé et étudié dans les réactions d’alkylation allylique et de déprotection du groupement alloc de type Tsuji-Trost. En se basant sur des travaux préliminaires, les fluorophores de type BODIPY ont été envisagés pour suivre la réaction par FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer). Dû à des problèmes de synthèse causés par la fragilité de ces colorants organiques, nous nous sommes tournés vers des substrats fluorogéniques de type coumarines pour parvenir finalement à établir le système réactionnel. Le greffage du catalyseur sur la monocouche de trichlorosilane a été étudié dans le but de terminer la construction du nanolaboratoire.(CHIM 3) -- UCL, 201

The Alkynyl Moiety as a Donor for Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes

The first <i>trans</i>-selective [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of a new type of donor–acceptor cyclopropane with aldehydes is presented. 2,2-Disubstituted cyclopropanes, bearing an alkyne moiety as the sole donor entity, were transformed to highly substituted tetrahydrofurans in the presence of a catalytic amount of Ca(NTf₂)₂/Bu₄NPF₆. The protocol allows for an easy access to tetrahydrofurans bearing a versatile alkyne substituent at the quarternary 2-position under very mild reaction conditions

Increased Catalytic Activity of Surface-Immobilized Palladium Complexes in the Fluorogenic Deprotection of an Alloc-Derivatized Coumarin

Catalytic surfaces have been prepared by complexation of palladium on self-assembled terpyridine monolayers on silicon. A reaction-based fluorogenic probe was developed to allow facile visualization of the catalytic potential of the surface (see figure). Superior activity of the immobilized catalyst compared with the homogeneous control reactions is demonstrated

Increased catalytic activity of surface-immobilized palladium complexes

Catalytic surfaces have been prepared by complexation of palladium on self-assembled terpyridine monolayers on silicon. A reaction-based fluorogenic probe was developed to allow facile visualization of the catalytic potential of the surface (see figure). Superior activity of the immobilized catalyst compared with the homogeneous control reactions is demonstrated

Thicker is better? Synthesis and evaluation of well-defined polymer brushes with controllable catalytic loadings

Polymer brushes (PBs) have been used as supports for the immobilization of palladium complexes on silicon surfaces. The polymers were grown by surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) and postdecorated with dipyridylamine(dpa) ligands. The pendant dpa units were in turn complexed with [PdACHTUNGTRENUNG(OAc)2] to afford hybrid catalytic surfaces. A series of catalytic samples of various thicknesses (ca. 20–160 nm) and associated palladium loadings (ca. 10–45 nmolcm2) were obtained by adjusting the SI-ATRP reaction time and characterized by ellipsometry, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ICP-MS revealed a near-linear relationship between thickness of the polymer brush and palladium content, which confirmed the robustness of the preparation and postmodification sequence presented herein, rendering possible the creation of functional architectures with predefined catalytic potential. The activities of the catalytic PBs were determined by systematically exploring a full range of substrate-to-catalyst ratios in a model palladium(0)-catalyzed reaction. Quantitative transformations were observed for loadings down to 0.03mol% and a maximum turnover number (TON) of around 3500 was established for the system. Comparison of the catalytic performances evidenced a singular influence of the thickness on conversions and TONs. The limited recyclability of the hairy catalysts has been attributed to palladium leaching