Lessons learned from an engineering doctoral program created in the developing countries context

Abstract

Several universities have shown significant progress in the implementation of educational models oriented by competencies and learning outcomes in undergraduate training programs. Similarly, it has been also necessary to advance in the curricular innovation of graduate programs but with an incipient orientation to the industrial sector. Thus, this paper provides a synthesis of the process of curriculum design of a doctorate program in engineering, as a consortium initiative of three very prestigious Chilean public universities (La Frontera, Bío-Bío, and Talca), where the main emphasis of this program was put on the industry, as a way to contribute to the increase of R&D in developing countries. As a result, this paper seeks to present an engineering doctoral program implemented in a developing country, and which have been the most important lessons learned from its creation until today.