A holistic approach to work-based learning in engineering education

This paper attempts to show how educators and learners can develop a sound partnership where both parties can gain from a joint venture. The desire of educators to undertake research work in order to be promoted in the academic world is not always the type of activity expected during the teaching process. If we can somehow create an environment where the need to do research and the need to do learning is satisfied at the same time, a partnership can then be established. The experience gained in a freshmen class ata new liberal university is described, with the hope that we can eventually draw new insights on a how to enhance engineering education.