Teamwork Skills Development in the Chem-E-Car Competition(R)at the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad Del Cusco as Case Study

Fernandez Bernaola U.R. · Proceedings - 9th International Symposium on Accreditation of Engineering and Computing Education, ICACIT 2023 (2023) · DOI: 10.1109/icacit59946.2023.10403727

Resumen

Teamwork is one of the main skills that an engineer has to manage in a work place in order to achieve professional targets. For that reason, engineering students need to cultivate and develop this ability throughout projects and competitions during their academic training. For example, in the field of chemical engineering there is a competition called Chem-E-Car competition(R) that is a competition of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Where students engage in designing and building a car powered by a chemical energy source that will safely run a specific distance and stop. The students from the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC), specifically from AIChE-UNSAAC student chapter decided to participate in the Chem-E-Car competition(R) and assume roles for the design and construction of a Zn-air battery as a propulsion reaction and an iodine-vitamin C reaction as a stop reaction. Integrating all the reactions in a motor using electrical connections, Arduino UNO, and accessories built by 3D printing. At all stages of the competition, students developed their teamwork skills such as showing respect for other team members, demonstrating commitment to team success, and resolving differences to benefit entire team. It was reflected through observation, a checklist of deliverables, and a teamwork survey. At the end, students from the AIChE-UNSAAC student chapter participated in the 4th AIChE Latin America Student Regional Conference (PROCESA) with its prototype car, receiving the 3rd place.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco