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Exploring the Benefits of Project-Based Pilot Plant Experience for Chemical Engineering Undergraduates

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Abstract

The process operations and management (POM) module offered by the University of Surrey’s Chemical and Process Engineering Department, in which students take charge of pilot-scale industrial equipment, is thought to create a learning environment which challenges undergraduates to develop their transferable skills. This study aimed to assess how effective the POM module is at improving student perceptions of their transferable skills by using questionnaires. The students reported high learning in the areas assessed, and an increased appreciation for transferable skills. The results indicate that the interest in UK Chemical Engineering departments for using pilot plants as a tool for effective teaching is justified, although care must be taken to make the most of the opportunities they provide when designing the modules that use them.

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Cooper, B., Thorpe, R., Alpay, E. (2020). Exploring the Benefits of Project-Based Pilot Plant Experience for Chemical Engineering Undergraduates. In: Gravett, K., Yakovchuk, N., Kinchin, I. (eds) Enhancing Student-Centred Teaching in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35396-4_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35396-4_12

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-35395-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-35396-4

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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