Teaching Methods
Aalborg University stands for tradition and innovation. It is rooted in two academic traditions: the classic Danish academic tradition, which historically has developed at the universities, and the professions-oriented tradition, which has been developed at other educational establishments and schools.
Aalborg University combines the two traditions in a broad range of research and educational activities. The classic tradition is represented by a number of disciplines within the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences, while the professions-oriented tradition typically is found within the areas of Engineering, Business and parts of the Social Sciences.
The teaching at Aalborg University is research based, which means that the teachers' ongoing research is included in the teaching with the purpose of bringing the students the most recent scientific knowledge. Furthermore, the university emphasizes a continuing development of the teaching methods as well as the teachers' pedagogical qualifications, including the systematic use of information technology in the education.
A trademark of Aalborg University is its unique pedagogic model of teaching: the problem-based, project-organized model. With this method a great part of the semester teaching and student work revolves around complex real-life problems that the students wonder about and try to find answers to in scientific manners while working together in groups. A recent evaluation from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has shown that this form of teaching is close to optimal for the learning process. The project work generally accounts for 50% of the study time at Aalborg University.
The teaching at Aalborg University is also conducted in the forms of lectures, courses, seminars, classroom training, laboratory work and workshops. The use of the different forms of teaching varies depending on the study programme. These forms of studying make up the other 50% of the study time.
Projects and Problem Solving
At Aalborg University the project work form is at the center of the teaching methods. A project is a larger assignment within a given framework determined for each semester. The first step in the project work is the process of formulating a problem/topic of a theoretical or practical nature. Under tutorial supervision, the students then collect and analyse data and discuss possible solutions to the complex problem.
Through this work process and supported by courses, literature and cooperation with companies and organizations, the students arrive at a deeper understanding of the subject investigated than what they normally would have learned from just reading and listening. Apart from the strictly professional outcome of this work method, it also brings the students other specific and important qualifications like e.g. good cooperation skills.
At the end of each semester, the project is presented in a written report, which is evaluated orally by the supervisor of the group and an external or internal examiner. The project presented is a comprehensive report of 75 - 150 pages (22500 - 45000 words) depending on the number of contributors.
Group Work
Most students work in groups on the project work. A group is normally between 3 to 5 students. Through the cooperation and division of work that group work allows, the group work gives the opportunity to investigate more complex and extensive problems than one person normally would be able to do. All project groups have a supervisor to help the group get started, give feedback on the group work etc.
Group work is not only used in connection with projects but also in assignment work in e.g. mathematics courses and at the writing of smaller seminar and case assignments.
Courses
A course is a series of lectures on a specific subject area. The form is usually lectures in bigger classes but if it is practical, the students are involved in the teaching by brief presentations at seminars. Some of the courses are related to the broader themes of the semesters and others serve as a direct support to the project work.
Evaluation
Throughout the time of study, the course teachings, the written project work and the written assignments are continuously evaluated. The project reports are usually evaluated by oral group examinations organized in such a way that an individual evaluation of each student takes place as well.
Some courses are directly relevant to the subject of the project work and are evaluated through the project evaluation. Other courses have a broader content and are usually evaluated by individual written or oral examinations.
Aalborg University carries out internal as well as external evaluations. At the internal evaluations, Aalborg University's own academic staff participates as examiners, and at the external evaluations examiners from other universities and the business community participate.
Courses in Pedagogy and Danish Language
In order to get more out of your stay at Aalborg University and in Denmark, it may be a good idea to attend a Danish language class. You can also attend courses in Pedagogy.
