ECO-GT pilot activities launched in Ecoengineering course
At the beginning of the new academic year, Environmental Engineering students at Gdańsk University of Technology took part in pilot activities implemented by the Polish ECO-GT project partner as part of the course Ecoengineering (BSc level).
As part of the ECO-GT project Engineers’ Communication and Collaborating Internationally for the Green Transition, selected skill-focused panels and competency blocks were integrated into the Ecoengineering curriculum. The pilot aims to test how communication and collaboration competencies developed within the project can be effectively taught to future environmental engineers in an academic setting.
During the introductory lecture, students were introduced to the structure of the pilot and the principles guiding project work throughout the semester. The session also set the context for why communication and teamwork skills are essential in environmental engineering practice, particularly when addressing complex, real-world challenges related to sustainability and the green transition.
Special attention was given to teamwork. Students learned about different roles within a team, the variety of skills individuals bring to collaborative work, and how these competencies can complement one another to support efficient and balanced cooperation. Potential challenges in team-based work were discussed, along with practical strategies for managing them.
To support self-reflection and team awareness, students completed the Belbin Team Roles Test, which helped them better understand their own strengths and preferred roles within a group. This exercise laid the groundwork for building well-balanced teams and effective collaboration throughout the semester. We cannot wait to follow the progress of this semester-long collaboration and to see how ECO-GT ideas take shape in practice through joint work with students.
