CDIO as a Cross-Discipline Academic Model

CDIO AS A CROSS-DISCIPLINE ACADEMIC MODEL

CDIO Abstract Submission – 12th International Conference

Primary uses of the CDIO model today

Today, the Conceive Design Implement Operate (CDIO) initiative is widely used internationally in modern engineering education with the objective of positioning graduating engineers to be successful in their discipline. In short, the initiative was developed to ensure engineering students receive a rational, complete and generalizable universal education that prepares them to be leaders and in some cases entrepreneurs. (Crawley, Malmqvist, Lucas, & Brodeur)

Opportunities for broader use of the CDIO model

The current CDIO initiative is geared specifically to engineering, but given its success, the question this paper investigates is its broader applicability across disciplines. Can the CDIO philosophy be generalized to create a more universal model that includes other academic disciplines? Preliminary literature review indicates that no academic institution has adopted this model for programs outside of engineering, which is intuitive considering the engineering directed terminology used in the model. Can we effectively map other discipline specific terminology onto the CDIO Standards and Syllabus structure to arrive at an effective variant that preserves the CDIO values and strengths? Preliminary findings with a technology related program suggest so, and we are curious to investigate other programs to find the boundary of effective mapping as disciplines become less technical in nature.

Can the CDIO perform as a cross-discipline academic model at Sheridan College?

To test this hypothesis, the authors will use a selection of programs offered at Sheridan College as a case study, mapping discipline specific program attributes onto the CDIO framework and assessing compatibility and potential effectiveness. Sheridan College, one of Canada’s leading Colleges, delivers a premier, purposeful educational experience in an environment renowned for creativity and innovation. We have selected five degree programs (Architecture, Computing, Applied Health Science, Business, and Fine Art) in four different academic Faculties, each with varying proximity to technology education to be studied.

We look forward to sharing on our findings on cross-discipline opportunities for the CDIO initiative!

Proceedings of the 12th International CDIO Conference, Turku, Finland, June 12-16 2016