By Lilla Bogø Rasmussen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Carrie Nugent

The ability to work with real-world problems is important and is one of the cornerstones of Aalborg University's learning model. It has attracted attention among educators and researchers from other universities. Therefore, American Carrie Nugent is currently in Aalborg, where she is investigating how problem-based learning unfolds at AAU through both teaching and students' project work.

Carrie Nugent is participating in a Fulbright Scholar program, which is about sharing knowledge across nations.

"My job is to come here and learn as much as possible here at AAU, while also sharing the knowledge I have about problem-based learning," says the Fulbright professor.

She works daily as an Associate Professor in Computational Physics and Planetary Science at Olin College in Massachusetts, USA, where project-based learning has been a hallmark since the university's inception. Olin College is also a world leader in engineering education, which is another similarity with Aalborg University, the best engineering university in Europe.

"Aalborg University is world famous for its engineering education and it has much in common with Olin College, where I’m from. This includes a focus on project-based learning, the value of group work, and working on real-world problems. Therefore, it seemed like a good match," says Carrie Nugent about why she chose Aalborg University.

Despite similarities between the two universities, Carrie has experienced several significant differences during her time at AAU. One of the differences is that problem-based learning at Olin College is primarily part of coursework, whereas at AAU, it also exists in the students' project work which are independent of required classes. The latter creates space for freedom and creativity among the students. Carrie Nugent is also very impressed by this!

"The students at Aalborg University impress me with their ability to go out and seek information on their own," says Carrie Nugent.

When Carrie Nugent returns home to Olin College this summer after six months in Aalborg, she will bring a lot of new learning with her. Here, she will share what she has learned and try to implement it in their use of problem-based learning.

"I believe that intrinsic motivation is the most powerful way to learn, so why not encourage students to have it whenever you can?," concludes the Fulbright professor.