Inspiring engineering education: Service learning in manufacturing projects for ecological entities.

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Title: Inspiring engineering education: Service learning in manufacturing projects for ecological entities.
Authors: Fabregat-Sanjuan, Albert1 (AUTHOR) a.fabregat@urv.cat, Mayolas, Alba1 (AUTHOR), Balsells, Oriol2 (AUTHOR), Ismael-Biosca, Victòria3 (AUTHOR), Huera-Huarte, Francisco1 (AUTHOR), Pàmies-Vilà, Rosa4 (AUTHOR)
Source: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education. Jul2026, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p696-711. 16p.
Subjects: Service learning, Engineering education, Turtle populations, Environmental protection, Interdisciplinary research, Environmental organizations, New product development
Abstract: This study explores the educational and practical impacts of a service-learning project, focusing on the collaboration between a university and vocational training schools. The project aimed to develop various initiatives related to ecological entities with focus on an innovative prototype for controlling invasive aquatic turtles, addressing need of and ecological entity from Tarragona region. Using the CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) educational framework, students applied theoretical engineering concepts in a hands-on, real-world context, fostering strong interdisciplinary collaboration between the academic institutions and the ecological entity requesting the prototype. The research question that guided this work was: How can a service-learning project, integrating the CDIO educational framework, enhance students' academic learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and civic responsibility while addressing real-world ecological challenges. The methodology employed was based on the analysis of CDIO educational framework in a service-learning project. For this analysis, we analyzed the information interchanged between university and vocational training school students, the integration of the social entity needs into the projects, the students' reflection on engaging in service-learning with the social organization and the vocational training school and the results of a student's survey. This project is part of the mechanical engineering degree program at Universitat Rovira i Virgili during the third academic year. The research instruments were projects and reflections analysis as well as student's survey. The project demonstrated how service-learning can enrich students' academic experience, with improvements in faculty and external support over time. The aquatic turtle control prototype was designed and manufactured according to client expectations, and the students' involvement highlighted the societal impact of engineering solutions aimed at environmental conservation. This study also illustrates how integrating service-learning with the CDIO framework enhances both academic learning and civic responsibility, demonstrating the potential of such projects to produce socially responsible engineers capable of addressing real-world problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Inspiring engineering education: Service learning in manufacturing projects for ecological entities.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fabregat-Sanjuan%2C+Albert%22">Fabregat-Sanjuan, Albert</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> a.fabregat@urv.cat</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mayolas%2C+Alba%22">Mayolas, Alba</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Balsells%2C+Oriol%22">Balsells, Oriol</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ismael-Biosca%2C+Victòria%22">Ismael-Biosca, Victòria</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huera-Huarte%2C+Francisco%22">Huera-Huarte, Francisco</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pàmies-Vilà%2C+Rosa%22">Pàmies-Vilà, Rosa</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Mechanical+Engineering+Education%22">International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p696-711. 16p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Service+learning%22">Service learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Engineering+education%22">Engineering education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Turtle+populations%22">Turtle populations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+protection%22">Environmental protection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interdisciplinary+research%22">Interdisciplinary research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+organizations%22">Environmental organizations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+product+development%22">New product development</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study explores the educational and practical impacts of a service-learning project, focusing on the collaboration between a university and vocational training schools. The project aimed to develop various initiatives related to ecological entities with focus on an innovative prototype for controlling invasive aquatic turtles, addressing need of and ecological entity from Tarragona region. Using the CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) educational framework, students applied theoretical engineering concepts in a hands-on, real-world context, fostering strong interdisciplinary collaboration between the academic institutions and the ecological entity requesting the prototype. The research question that guided this work was: How can a service-learning project, integrating the CDIO educational framework, enhance students' academic learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and civic responsibility while addressing real-world ecological challenges. The methodology employed was based on the analysis of CDIO educational framework in a service-learning project. For this analysis, we analyzed the information interchanged between university and vocational training school students, the integration of the social entity needs into the projects, the students' reflection on engaging in service-learning with the social organization and the vocational training school and the results of a student's survey. This project is part of the mechanical engineering degree program at Universitat Rovira i Virgili during the third academic year. The research instruments were projects and reflections analysis as well as student's survey. The project demonstrated how service-learning can enrich students' academic experience, with improvements in faculty and external support over time. The aquatic turtle control prototype was designed and manufactured according to client expectations, and the students' involvement highlighted the societal impact of engineering solutions aimed at environmental conservation. This study also illustrates how integrating service-learning with the CDIO framework enhances both academic learning and civic responsibility, demonstrating the potential of such projects to produce socially responsible engineers capable of addressing real-world problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1177/03064190251322067
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        Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
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      – SubjectFull: Service learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Engineering education
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      – SubjectFull: Turtle populations
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      – SubjectFull: Environmental organizations
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      – SubjectFull: New product development
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      – TitleFull: Inspiring engineering education: Service learning in manufacturing projects for ecological entities.
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              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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