Using field trips in engineering education to facilitate the understanding of energy systems and technologies: an overview

Abstract

Can field trips provide a more efficient way of teaching energy systems and technologies at the university level? This paper provides an overview of how field trips could be used to teach students the fundamentals and complexities of energy systems and energy technologies. It contains an overview of learning objectives related to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (clean and affordable energy) as well as teaching methods that could be used during a field trip programme. This paper uses the findings of five weeklong field trips for university students as a case study to shed light on the benefits of such an educational experience. These visits included visits to production sites, governmental and corporate stakeholders of the energy system in different regions in Germany. The paper then proposes a schedule for a multiple-day field trip and suggests a general programme in four categories (political institutions, production sites, civil society and research institutions) for a better understanding of energy systems and technologies