Industrial Knowledge Management Tools Applied to Engineering Education

Abstract

Knowledge is a major source of competitive advantage. Hence, industry has developed tools to capture and reuse its knowledge in the development of new projects and products. Information practices and learning strategies, as Knowledge Management, are gaining acceptance also in the field of education. However, the use of these tools are limited to staff applications and they are not being employed in the university core business: education. This paper shows how a tool to build and validate internal combustion engines, developed in industry, has been successfully integrated into a university course. The learning process has being greatly enriched by the use of this application. Evidence on the planned improvements are also presented.