Manufacturing Education- Facilitating the Collaborative Learning Environment for Industry and University

Abstract

State of the art Engineering Education is crucial for Research and Innovation according to the European Union's growth strategy. This paper contributes with more knowledge of how Universities and Industry can facilitate collaborative learning environments and create efficient working methods. A group of students accepted the challenge from an industrial company to examine robotic assembly of their products. The students built a robot cell prototype in the company's design department, to promote knowledge about design for robot manufacturing. The setting of this learning environment enabled knowledge creation with significant learning outcomes for the university, the Industrial Company and other partners. The project motivated the teachers to collaborate across Faculties at the University, and gave new insight in formulation of objectives for this type of projects.