The research–teaching nexus in higher education has been strongly discussed and debated, especially when it comes to developing research competence and introducing evidence-based practice into the master’s degree curricula for Educational Sciences and Engineering Sciences. Previous systematic reviews have summarised the manner in which research is taught in higher education, and revealed that there is a lack of cross-disciplinary comparative analysis in research–pedagogy in various scientific disciplines, as well as in assessing and measuring the development of research competence (RC) at the level of higher education. To provide a comprehensive picture of the RC development and of the teaching RC, a scoping review (SCR) methodology was performed. For the purpose of the present study, a total of 33 research articles were analysed to investigate RC development in Engineering and in Social Sciences. RC is regarded as a core competence in Engineering Sciences, while in Educational Sciences, it is not yet a standardised concept. Despite differences in Social and Engineering studies, the review revealed some common aspects concerning RC modelling, based on specific key skills that students are supposed to acquire at the master’s degree level. This SCR draws our attention to the complex process of RC development as a long process requiring practice and activities implemented throughout the entire higher education process, regardless of scientific field.

No abstract

This paper presents the researches on the influence of thermal shocks on the heat transfer properties of the zircaloy-4, now used in fuel element cladding of third generation nuclear reactors. Thermal shock testing was performed using solar energy at high temperatures, up to 1350�C, with 1, 3 and 6 thermal cycles of 60s. The determination of the thermal diffusivity of the tested samples was made by the flash method at 350 �C, the operating temperature of the third-generation nuclear reactors.

This study aims at determining the influence of thermal shocks at high temperatures, over the allotropic temperature, on the microstructure, composition and hardness of the Zy-4 sheath. The thermal shocks have been applied at the temperatures between 900 and 1600�C, in the air, lasting 30 and 60 s, through rapid heating in the solar furnace. The treated samples were microstructurally analyzed on the surface and in section by scanning electron microscopy and EDS, thickness measurement of the formed layers, the oxygen and hardness profile determination in section relative to the treated surface. At the microstructural level, the researches have revealed the evolution of the morphology of the oxide layers formed under high temperature thermal shock conditions and the evolution of the microstructure of the metallic mass as the temperature and shock duration increase, correlating this evolution with the oxygen diffusion process and with the evolution of the microhardness. Researches have provided information on the Zy-4 alloy behaviour under accidental conditions.

No abstract