Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions

Conference Track:  Engineering Education

Keywords:         mechatronics, engineering education, curriculum development

Contact Title::    Prof.

Contact First Name: Paulo

Contact Last Name:  Varoto

University:       University of Sao Paulo

Web:             

Position:         Associate Professor, Chair of the Undergraduate Commiittee

Country:          Brazil

Email:           

Fax:             

Abstract Title: 

NEW APPROACH IN MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT 

Abstract: 

This  paper is mostly concerned in describing recent curriculum development  in undergraduate mechatronics engineering education at the University of Sao Paulo, Campus of São Carlos, Brazil (EESC-USP). Some of the major features of this new curriculum include, besides a solid emphasis on the foundations of basic sciences, the necessity of associating  innovative technological and new educational trends in such a way that the future engineers may practice their profession with a  competitive and entrepreneur professional profile. Since mechatronics is an interdisciplinary area involving mechanical,  electrical engineering sciences and computer science, the balance of concepts required from these three major areas in order to appropriately educate the mechatronic engineer represents a difficult task. Another important feature of the mechatronics curriculum at EESC-USP is the presence of mandatory courses at undergraduate level that addresses strategic technological subjects, as for example the design and application of microelectrical and microoptical electrical mechanical systems (MEMs and MOEMs). Therefore, this new curriculum at EESC-USP aims to center the educational process in the process of design and product development

Mailing Address: 

Av. Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400

Sao Carlos SP

Department of Mechanical Engineering 

Phone: 

Authors: 

Prof. Paulo Varoto

Dr. Glauco Caurin

Dr. Luiz. A. Goncalves