Developing students’ collaborative skills in interdisciplinary learning environments

In the light of increasing demands on engineering curricula to integrate the development of professional skills in engineering education, this paper focuses on characteristics of effective educational environments and experiences for preparing students for future challenges by exploring ways in which professional learning is encouraged. The study is empirically grounded in a 3-day annual workshop that brings together students from all areas in the building sector including industry exponents to engage collaboratively in the processes of design and construction of a new building. The workshop is based on the principles of Building Information Modeling (BIM), which facilitate the coordination and collaboration between parties of a building design and construction team, and in this process, essential communication and interpersonal skills are mobilized and developed. Data about the students' learning outcome are collected through observation, interviews and online questionnaires. The present investigation points at the dual effect of experiential learning in problem-based, interdisciplinary environments with regard to both actualizing core knowledge, skills and competences through solving complex real life problems and having to employ and thereby develop professional skills in the process of solving these problems.