Hotbed of Research: A Practical Approach to Learning and Research - Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Abstract

A model developed by the College of Electrical Engineering at the Universidad Tecnologica de Panama with the objectives of strengthening and incrementing research activities among undergraduate students. The model creates a hotbed for researchers involving UTP as an experimental laboratory, on one side, and public and private organizations, ONG's, communities or individuals that require the application of technologies to solve their problems. Activities such as short internships, field trips and research camps are implemented. Additionally, a methodology proposed by the Intelligent Control and Industrial Informatics Research Group (SCII) and called INTEGRA ME has been developed. In addition to short term internships, the methodology has implemented a series of workshops, seminars and different activities with other research group, not only in the main campus in Panama City, but also in different regional campuses through the country. Several papers in national and international journals and conferences have been presented. Also, people from the program have participated in different calls for proposals obtaining funding for different research projects. In both cases, it is expected to generate a group of young professionals ready to generate solutions or take advantages of opportunities found during the different activities, always looking for benefiting the Panamanian society.