The Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering offers students the opportunity to acquire knowledge not only in lectures, but also in practical development projects. The study regulations introduced in 2022 will enhance project-based teaching.
The combination of academic and practice-oriented training has a long tradition at D-MAVT – for over twenty years, the Bachelor's degree program has included innovation and focus projects. Students learn to coordinate development projects in a team and solve problems together. The aim is to better prepare them for the demands of the working world and to teach them skills that go beyond academic expertise. The department has done pioneering work to supplement teaching with practice-oriented, didactic concepts. In 2022, two innovations were introduced to the study regulations that further strengthen project-based teaching.
Innovation project only in the third semester
The innovation project is a project-based course run by Mirko Meboldt, Professor of Product Development and Design, which is compulsory for all mechanical engineering students. In small groups, everyone works on the same task and goes through the process from initial design studies to the construction of a functional mechatronic system. In addition to the technical challenges, the students must master working in a team. The approximately 500 students are supported by 30 supervisors from higher semesters who have undergone training as coaches. At the end, the teams present their systems in a competition. To enable students to contribute more specialist knowledge to practical applications, the innovation project takes place in the third semester instead of the previous second semester.
More recognition for performance in the focus projects
The provisions for the focus projects, for which third-year students can apply as an alternative to an academic specialization, are also new. In the focus projects, new technological approaches from research are implemented in forward-looking product ideas. The task challenges the students to think beyond the boundaries of the familiar. The teams have just under a year to develop a prototype. Originally, the projects were led by Roland Siegwart, professor at the Autonomous Systems Lab, who came to ETH Zurich in 2006. Since 2012, focus projects can be offered by all D-MAVT professors. The fields of application range from manufacturing processes and drive systems for vehicles and aircraft to robotics and medical technology. Students work together with industry partners as well as with students from other universities such as the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) or the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
To recognize the high level of work involved in a focus project, students are now awarded 20 ECTS credits instead of the previous 14. Around 20 percent of the yearly group - around one hundred students - become members of a focus team. They are only admitted if they have passed all compulsory examinations so that they can cope with the additional workload. This is because participation is always an extra effort. In return, the students have the opportunity to practise critical thinking, to engage with other team members and to communicate with industry partners before they start their careers. Some projects are so promising that they are continued after the Bachelor's degree - numerous ETH spin-offs have been launched as focus projects.
“Coaching the coaches”
At D-MAVT, it was recognized early on that it is important to support the development of social skills in project-based teaching and to train the coaches of the innovation and focus projects accordingly. In 2014, training courses were introduced for coaches. Their task is to help the teams ask the right questions, promote systematic thinking and resolve conflicts. The successful “Coaching Students” training course is now also offered at ETH Zurich's PBLabs (Project-Based Labs) - for all departments and various event formats.
Pioneering work in project-based education
1997 An innovation project takes place for the first time under the leadership of Markus Meier, Professor of Product Development.
2004 Meier initiates the focus projects. He dies in an accident during the academic year. Lecturer Roland Haas continues the ongoing projects.
2006 Roland Siegwart joins ETH as Professor of Autonomous Systems and takes over the Focus Projects.
2007 Siegwart introduces the innovation project in the 2nd semester as a compulsory course for all mechanical engineering students.
2012 Focus projects can now be offered by all D-MAVT professors. Topics range from manufacturing processes and drive systems for vehicles and aircraft to robotics and medical technology.
2013 Mirko Meboldt, Professor of Product Development and Design, takes over the management of the innovation projects
2014 Meboldt initiates the “Coaching Innovation Projects” course, which is designed and implemented by lecturers Ina Goller and Roland Haas.
2016 Meboldt and his team receive the KITE Award, with which ETH Zurich recognizes particularly innovative teaching formats, for the innovation project and the “Coaching Innovation Projects” course
Further information
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