INNOVATIONS IN TEACHING METHODOLOGY IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Transcription

1 Civil Engineering Education in Changing Europe 89 INNOVATIONS IN TEACHING METHODOLOGY IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Kastytis Dundulis 1, Vincentas Stragys 2, Danutė Sližytė 3, Rimantas Mackevičius 4 1 Prof., Dr. Sc., Vilnius University, Lithuania, 2, 3, 4 Assoc. Prof., Dr. Sc., Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania, rimma@st.vgtu.lt Summary Soil mechanics is a basic subject for civil engineering students and not an easy one. In a discipline dealing with a very complex natural material, examples taken from the practical experience of the teacher or other documented case studies can represent quite often the best way for best understanding of geotechnical concepts. Perspective civil engineers should be given overall technical knowledge, but the present educational methods must obviously change: the trend to include more technical material in the undergraduate curriculum should be abandoned in favour of more understanding. Academic lectures have to include extensive exposure to such features as environmental problems and computational methods. From the Lithuanian universities the most representative ones delivering geotechnical education are Vilnius University and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. 1. Introduction Geotechnical engineering education is a part of the civil engineering education. At the 1 st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering which took place in Cambridge, USA, in 1936, great attention was paid to problems of education. Karl Terzaghi, Arthur Casagrande and other founding fathers of the modern soil mechanics expressed their thoughts on geotechnical engineering education [1]. For some reasons, when international conferences resumed after the Second World War the pattern was not followed. Only in January 1994, at the 13 th ISSMFE (International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering) Conference held in New Delhi, a workshop on education was included in the programme. The example was followed at the 11 th European Conference held in 1995 in Copenhagen, then at the 14 th ISSMFE Conference held in 1997 in Hamburg and, most recently, at the 12 th European Conference held in 1999 in Amsterdam. A number of reports and papers of outstanding quality were presented at these Workshops. However, issues of education in geotechnical engineering are too complex and too numerous to be covered in the 1-2 hours allotted usually to the workshops at the international conferences. Time was come for a full international conference devoted to such issues, the First International Conference on

2 90 6 th AECEF Symposium in Vilnius, Lithuania, May, 2008 Geotechnical Engineering Education and Training held in Sinaia, Romania, in June 2000 [1]. 2. Innovations in geotechnical education in Europe Soil mechanics is a basic subject for civil engineering students and not an easy one. In a discipline dealing with a very complex natural material, examples taken from the practical experience of the teacher or other documented case studies can represent quite often the best way for best understanding of geotechnical concepts. The Sorbonne Declaration of 25 th May 1998 [2] and the Bologna Declaration of 19 th June 1999 [3] recommended studies should be organized in two cycles: undergraduate and graduate. The purpose of the Bologna process is to create the European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. All member states of the EU are participating in the process. Perspective civil engineers should be given overall technical knowledge, but the present educational methods must obviously change: the trend to include more technical material in the undergraduate curriculum should be abandoned in favour of more understanding. Academic lectures have to include extensive exposure to such features as environmental problems and computational methods. Teachers must help the students gain the ability to apply the theory to practice. Engineering orientation courses must become the most important in the entire curriculum[4]. Civil engineering profession needs to develop a modern engineering aproach and ethic in order to meet the demands and requirements of todays and futures generations. Wth this view, civil engineering curriculum should be examined and redisigned. Geotechnical engineering education at undergrafuate level can only be considered in the context of civil engineering education. 3. Innovations in geotechnical education in Lithuania Enrolment in higher education institutions of Lithuania is on a competitive basis. The main requirement for applicant is to be a graduate of secondary school. Also applicant shall have good marks in subjects of natural sciences, mathematics, physics and chemistry. Knowledge of Lithuanian language is also compulsory. Rules of enrolment are set by the higher education institution while a State funded institution has to agree its own rules of enrolment with the Ministry of Education and Sciences. An individual may choose to compete for a position of a student at a number of higher education institutions at a time by taking part in the general enrolment procedure [5]. Civil Engineering higher education studies are an integral part of engineering studies [6].

3 Civil Engineering Education in Changing Europe 91 Engineering education system was quite unique during the Soviet Union time. However, it was changed after the republics gained their independence. Lithuania was one of the first countries in Europe which adopted two tier system of higher education. Now higher education system in Lithuania is of two types: university studies (usually at universities) and non-university studies (usually at colleges). University studies are of 3 levels: Undergraduate studies. Duration of studies 4 years. Graduates of undergraduate studies are awarded a Bachelor s degree and (or) a professional qualification. Master studies. Duration of studies years. Master studies are open for those that have obtained a Bachelor s degree. Graduates of Master studies are awarded a Master degree. Doctoral studies. The purpose of these studies is to train researchers. Individuals that have graduated from master studies may enroll in doctoral studies. Duration of studies is 4 years. Studies are organized in line with an individual education curriculum. At the end of the studies students must present their thesis. After the thesis is publicly defended, the University awards a Doctor s degree. Lithuanian Universities where geotechnical subjects are thought are as follows: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius University, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Klaipeda University and Siauliai University. Lithuanian Colleges where geotechnical subjects are thought are as follows: Vilnius College of Construction and Design, Kaunas Technical College, Panevezys College. From the above listed Lithuanian universities the most representative ones delivering geotechnical education are Vilnius University and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Study programmes in VU and VGTU are completely different. The origination of Lithuanian technical education dates back to the 16 th century, to the oldest East European University in Vilnius (Universitas Vilnensis). In the year 1963 in the faculty of Natural sciences of Vilnius University it was opened study program Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology and department of Hydrology and Engineering Geology is responsible for delivering geotechnical subjects. In all Lithuanian universities curricula for studies of Geological sciences shall be prepared according to Regulations for studies in Geological branch (2005). Document is issued by Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania and is compulsory for preparing curricula for all fields of Geological studies. In the first cycle of studies in VU two study programmes related to Geotechnical sciences are offered: Geology, Hydrogeology and Engineering Geol-

4 92 6 th AECEF Symposium in Vilnius, Lithuania, May, 2008 ogy. The aim of Basic Geological subjects is to provide knowledge on: Earth as a system, its structure, composition, geological processes, evolution, geology of Baltic States, relation of man to geological environment, scientific and practical system of the exploitation of natural resources and the environmental protection. Second cycle of geotechnical studies in VU contains the following groups of subjects: General geology and information technologies, Engineering geology subjects, Hydrogeology subjects, 5 weeks duration field practice, Research work and Final thesis. Engineering Geology subjects contains Geomechanics, Geotechnical design, Construction of structures, Engineering geological cartography, Engineering hydrology, Geotechnics of Baltic region. Hydrogeology subjects contains Engineering hydrogeology, Regional hydrogeology, Hydrogeological modeling, Hydrochemistry of drink groundwater, Special methods in hydrogeology, Research work and Final thesis. After the World War I engineers were thought at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. Starting from 1950 the main technical school in Lithuania was Kaunas Polytechnic Institute. Department of Engineering Geology in the institute served for Civil Engineering studies. In 1969 department was transferred to Vilnius to new established Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute. Department was renamed to Geotechnical Department and serves for teaching Geotechnical subjects. In all Lithuanian universities curricula for studies of Technological sciences shall be prepared according to Regulations for studies in Technological (Engineering) branches (2005). Document is issued by Ministry of Education and Sscience of the Rrepublic of Lithuania and is compulsory for preparing curricula for all branches of Technological sciences. According to regulations all technological sciences are divided into 14 branches of Engineering. Geotechnical studies in VGTU are in the curricula of Civil Engineering branch and could be named as studies of Geotechnical Engineering studies. Civil Engineering Education system in Lithuania was presented by Stragys &.Vainiunas (2004) in the fourth EUCEET volume [6] and Geotechnical Engineering Education and Training system in Lithuania was presented by Stragys (2000) in the Proceedings of the First International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering Education and Training [5]. For all Civil Engineering programmes in VGTU, there are thought three classical compulsory Geotechnical Engineering courses pertaining to the field of Geotechnic: Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. These subjects are also taught in English for arriving Erasmus students, nevertheless all teaching in the University is in Lithuanian language. For some study programs such as Structural Design or Construction Technology all four courses are compulsory, however in some programs Engineering Geology is combined

5 Civil Engineering Education in Changing Europe 93 with Soil Mechanics or Soil Mechanics is combined with Foundation Engineering. For specialization in Geotechnics compulsory and elective courses are thought wider and deeper. Specialization courses are given starting from the fifth semester of studies. Titles of Geotechnical courses are presented follow: Engineering Geology, Engineering Geology practice, Soil Mechanics, Geotechnical Investigation and Testing, Geotechnical field practice, Hydrogeology, Foundation Engineering, Environmental Geotechnics, Execution of Geotechnical works, Underpinning of foundations, Soil improvement, Geotechnical design of underground, Structures and Retaining Walls, Final project. Lithuanian Association of Civil Engineers (LSIS) offers Continuing Education Programs for Civil and Structural engineers including topics of geo-technical sciences. LSIS is a member of European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE). At this time for Lithuanian geotechnical community is very important to adopt Eurocode system and prepare national annex s to EN Implementation of permanent system for continuing education, training and certification of engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers is in the preparation stage in Lithuania. References [1] MANOLIU, I. Trends in engineering education worldwide and their relevance for geotechnical engineering education. In Proceedings of the 1 st International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering Education and Training, Sinaia, Romania, June Ed. by I.Manoliu. A.A.Balkema, 2000, p [2] Sorbonne Joint Declaration on harmonization of the architecture of the European higher education system. [3] The Bologna Declaration on the European space for higher education. ec.europa.eu/ education/policies/educ/bologna/bologna.pdf [4] CINICIOGLU, S. New trends in geotechnical engineering education. In Proceedings of the 1 st International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering Education and Training, Sinaia, Romania, June Ed. by I.Manoliu. A.A.Balkema, 2000, p [5] STRAGYS, V. Geotechnical engineering education and training in Lithuania. In Proceedings of the 1 st International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering Education and Training, Sinaia, Romania, June Ed. by I.Manoliu. A.A.Balkema, 2000, p [6] STRAGYS, V.; VAINIUNAS P. Civil Engineering Education in Lithuania. Civil Engineering Education in Europe th EUCEET volume. Ed. by I. Manoliu. Bucuresti, Romania, p