Convergence between Two Different Engineering Degrees through Practices and the Guided Project

Abstract

Due to the current economic crisis, most universities have tried to optimize their resources using the formula of regrouping of one or several subjects or areas from different, but compatible university degrees. This way, universities become sustainable and take the most of their resources: their human resources, the economic and those of equipment and facilities like the one presented in this communication. In this context, the University Jaume I has decided to gather, to assemble, the Technical Architecture Bachelor ' s Degree and in Agri-food and Rural Environment Engineering Bachelor ' s Degree through their common subject in the curriculum of Topography and Surveying, Although the content of these two degrees is different, one based basically on the construction in urban areas and the other based on agricultural subjects or rural areas both have also compatible contents. For that reason, the team of professors responsible for the subject of Topography and Surveying was asked to assume this challenge and adapt both the theoretical and the practical knowledge related to these two different professional fields, to the construction field and to the agricultural sector. In order to achieve this common goal regardless the theoretical frame, two types of different practices have been considered. On the one hand, the standard practices along with the laboratories. On the other hand, the development of the Guided Project corresponding to the course and degree. In this paper it is shown how this goal has been achieved, being the content of each practical the same, although the competence scope is different. Therefore, we may claim that the convergence between the two degrees was obtained through the practices, since the application of the knowledge and equipment is the same in these two degrees, although the final aim is different.