PBL in a multicultural environment: experiences from a Master´s programme

Increasingly, it seems that problem-based learning (PBL) is regarded as a useful example of student centred learning and of dealing with the complex relationship between theoretical knowledge on the one hand and practical problems and issues on the other hand. Through more than three decades, Aalborg University has developed its own version of PBL, based in project work organised in groups of students. The result is a focus on the development of student abilities and competences related to discipline knowledge as well as to cooperation, communication, management and self-reflection. So far, the Aalborg version of PBL has mainly been implemented in settings of Danish students. However, in the last 10-15 years an increasing number of international students have joined Aalborg University. This has entailed new challenges to the Aalborg way of PBL; challenges associated with a move from a monocultural to a multicultural learning environment. This presentation focus on the considerations, reflections and specific actions concerning the implementation of PBL in a specific and multicultural environment at Aalborg University, namely that of the Master´s programme in Urban Planning and Management. The presentation will be framed on re-establishing the chronology of events, material and products associated with the implementation in autumn 2005 of the first semester (term) of this programme. In particular, the presentation illustrates the challenges of establishing a common learning environment including both (Danish) students who are already familiar with PBL and international students who are mostly inexperienced with PBL.