This approach focuses on collaborative, hands-on research and project work aimed at addressing real-world challenges. It enganges participants in discovering and solving these challenges while deepening their subject knowledge, developing skills and shairing insights. Challenges are initially defined with input from various sectors such as public authorities, private organizations and civil socirty, then refined into actionable problem statements that lead to the development, testing and implementation of practical solutions.
This guide aims to inspire university teachers and societal collaboration partners. We hope that our societal collaboration partners will learn more about the conditions in universities, programmes and courses and be encouraged to provide universities with challenges suitable in educational settings. The main target group though is university teachers and therefore we offer a number of suggestions throughout the guide that are meant for teachers about to design and offer challenge based courses.
Strathmore University’s BBIT students collaborated with Strathmore Medical Centre on a challenge-driven project, continuing from their 3rd to 4th year.
The Medical Centre, which serves both the university and the community, has a long-term partnership with the School of Computing & Engineering Sciences, facilitating the automation of its operations.
This case study involves a challenge-driven project by final-year BBIT students from Strathmore University’s School of Computing and Engineering Sciences,
focused on the university’s four cafeterias, which serve students, staff, and visitors as key stakeholders.