Author

Samson Mhlanga

Title

Challenged Driven Learning (CDL) In Energy Courses And Its Impact On Skills Zimbabwe

News

Above is a topic that was presented at the 4^th Annual Education for sustainable development Interdisciplinary research (blended) Conference. The theme for the conference was  Exploring Innovative approaches and emerging trends in Education for sustainable development. The conference was held at the National University of Science and Technology as from the 16^th -18^th October 2024. There were several presenters that presented in this conference, from the EU-ZW project, with “Challenge Driven Learning” presented by Busiso Mtunzi. Figure 1 below shows the CBL presentation in session.

Figure 1:-Challenge Driven learning Paper Presentation

 

The paper highlighted  how Challenge Driven Learning repositions students as drivers empowered to make decisions on course content and how to assess needs in the real world and develop opinions. The paper also went on to show how the Challenge driven learning leads to entrepreneurial self-regulated and authentic learning. It also gave the process already followed in achieving the CBL which included setting up of Round Table Discussions Forums in the five local institutions; coming up with sub- themes on Sustainable Energy Provision in Zimbabwe. The paper also highlighted examples of Challenge Driven Learning already undertaken at NUST which included the following ; National Engineering Students Awards for Research and Innovation (NESARI), Energy for Access Challenge and Enactus competitions that saw NUST team winning the Early Stage Category in the world competitions in Astana Karzakistan on the 5 Oct 2024. Of concern by the audience was the question how can we formalise it to the full stream. Fortunately Challenge Driven Learning has been implemented in one of the institutions in Karzakistan where they award a double major meaning the student who will partake will have a degree and a diploma in Entrepreneurship which becomes a motivation.

 

The project  EU- ZW is currently at the stage of developing theoretical contents of the modules. CDL is the way to impart skills in order to solve the challenges of the works today if we are to answer to the SDGs and meet the targets. Great appreciation goes to our partners in the project and EU for funding the project.

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