Didactic and scientific background

The solar-car projected was established in the mid 90’s at the London South Bank University (LSBU), partner of the Bochum University of Applied Sciences. Both schools operated the venture as a joint research as well as teaching project. Ever since Prof. Dr. Mike Duke has switched to the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, the venture is being exclusively conducted as a problem based learning research project with students from all faculties being involved. Problem Based Learning (PBL) stands for a teaching method that focuses on the learning student. Step by step the student is given more responsibility to acquire the necessary knowledge on his own behalf. Consequently, this leads to an independent student who is responsible for his own learning success and studies on his own effort. The student team leaders take on responsibility for all the steps in development. The entire team plans the acquisition and use of all the necessary resources. The Tutors act as trainers, supply the necessary infrastructure and guide the students in their undertaking. Each phase of the project is concluded by revising the different processes of developing the required solutions by benchmarking and self-evaluating the student’s performance. The voluntary class “development of solar powered vehicles” has become a fixed element in Bochum University of Applied Sciences’ tuition curriculum.