Integrating industry site visits as experiential learning in bioeconomy education
Session Type
Poster
Room
The Great Hall, Somerville House (room 3326)
Start Date
17-7-2025 4:00 PM
End Date
17-7-2025 6:00 PM
Keywords
bioeconomy education, experiential learning, hands-on learning
Primary Threads
Teaching and Learning Science
Abstract
We enhanced a third-year biomaterials laboratory-based course to integrate an industry field trip to provide students with experiential learning and direct engagement with sustainability-focused industrial processes. In collaboration with BC Research Inc., we designed a learning experience that connected pilot-scale technologies with course content.
Students prepared through readings, lectures, and topic-based assignments. During the field trip, students toured industrial facilities and interacted with professionals working on technologies such as microplastic removal, nanocellulose production, and pulp and paper chemical recovery. Post-visit assessments, including reflective writing, group presentations, and surveys indicated a positive impact. One student noted: “Being in the facility and interacting with professionals gave us a clearer sense of how lab knowledge translates to industry, it was one of the most valuable learning experiences of our program.” Survey results confirmed that 100% of students would recommend this visit for future cohorts, emphasizing its value in connecting classroom learning with industry practice.
This project highlights the value of hand-on and experiential learning through curriculum-integrated industry engagement, helping students understand sustainability in real-world contexts and preparing them for careers in the bioeconomy.
The project was supported through the Sustainability Education Grant, funded by the Sustainability Education Hub at the University of British Columbia, which aims to “inspire the design and development of interdisciplinary, experiential, and applied curriculum options for UBC students to learn about a sustainability topic or challenge.”
Integrating industry site visits as experiential learning in bioeconomy education
The Great Hall, Somerville House (room 3326)
We enhanced a third-year biomaterials laboratory-based course to integrate an industry field trip to provide students with experiential learning and direct engagement with sustainability-focused industrial processes. In collaboration with BC Research Inc., we designed a learning experience that connected pilot-scale technologies with course content.
Students prepared through readings, lectures, and topic-based assignments. During the field trip, students toured industrial facilities and interacted with professionals working on technologies such as microplastic removal, nanocellulose production, and pulp and paper chemical recovery. Post-visit assessments, including reflective writing, group presentations, and surveys indicated a positive impact. One student noted: “Being in the facility and interacting with professionals gave us a clearer sense of how lab knowledge translates to industry, it was one of the most valuable learning experiences of our program.” Survey results confirmed that 100% of students would recommend this visit for future cohorts, emphasizing its value in connecting classroom learning with industry practice.
This project highlights the value of hand-on and experiential learning through curriculum-integrated industry engagement, helping students understand sustainability in real-world contexts and preparing them for careers in the bioeconomy.
The project was supported through the Sustainability Education Grant, funded by the Sustainability Education Hub at the University of British Columbia, which aims to “inspire the design and development of interdisciplinary, experiential, and applied curriculum options for UBC students to learn about a sustainability topic or challenge.”