Engineering education in a context of VUCA

Abstract

Nowadays the world is very dynamic and thus we are faced with scenarios with a high degree of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). This reality affects engineering educators that need in many circumstances to promote more active learning approaches that transfer to the students the responsibility of learning. The aim is to allow students to get better prepared to face the market, after their studies. Such learning strategies encompass many challenges, both for educators and students. This manuscript discusses the major changes that have been introduced in a university course that promotes entrepreneurship in the field of software engineering. The promotion of entrepreneurship within universities asks for effective approaches that must be frequently evaluated and changed. The course is analyzed along two major VUCA angles: (1) how to adapt it to satisfy the students, and (2) how students can be stimulated to learn how to behave in VUCA contexts.