On the afternoon of June 2nd, 2011, Professor Erik de Graaff from Holland gave an academic report on Implementation of Problem-Based Learning, at which the audience present included over 20 appointed-curriculum teacher representatives, representatives of fellow colleges and our college staff in charge of teaching management. The lecture was hosted by Associate Dean of our college, Mr. Wang Jun.

Professor Erik de Graaff started with the detailed account on Problem-Based learning. He pointed out that, comparing with traditional method of teacher-centered information output,  the problem-based learning method enjoyed superiority in its application in engineering, for it functioned better to motivate the students’ initiative and enthusiasm in learning so as to enhance their command of gained knowledge.

In the last part of the lecture, the audience was divided into three groups for the in-depth discussion about Problem-Based learning, followed by the summary, assessment and suggestions Professor Erik de Graaff put forward.

Erik de Graaff (1951) graduated at the University of Amsterdam in 1978, majoring in the psychology of work and organization. He has been a visiting research professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia in 1995 and a guest professor at Aalborg University in Denmark since 1999. The collaboration with Aalborg University resulted in an appointment as full professor at the department of Development and Planning in 2011. Dr de Graaff has contributed to the promotion of knowledge and understanding of higher engineering education with numerous publications and through participation in professional organizations like SEFI and IGIP. In 2006 Dr de Graaff was appointed as associate editor of the European Journal of Engineering Education. Since January 2008 he has been serving as Editor-in-Chief of the EJEE.


                                                                                                  At the Lecture