Developing Cross-level Collaborative Learning Opportunities in Engineering Education: A Case Study

The need for systemic change in sustainability transitions is challenging the formats of architectural and engineering education. However, there are still few possibilities (if at all) for architectural and engineering students to engage with the students at technical schools and craftspeople directly and to develop a thorough understanding of how practical, hands-on knowledge can inform design and engineering and vice versa. The lack of structural exchanges between students at different level institutions jeopardizes continuity between design and practice; it further creates a divide between future engineers and craftspeople; and by extension, it compromises the implement-ability of sustainability approaches. This paper discusses the experience of a cross-level learning collaboration for a course on circular product design. It describes the course set up, and especially the structured exchanges between architecture and engineering students with students of carpentry to develop one to one scale prototypes using biobased materials. An in-depth analysis of the course outcomes and student feedback help identify the benefits and the challenges of engaging in learning exchanges and their respective implications for students and tutors alike. Results illustrate the intricacies of said collaborations and how they ultimately affect pedagogy and learning.