THE USE OF GLOBALIZING SUBJECT IN ENGINEERING STUDIES: THE CASE OF SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF CHEMICAL PROCESSES SUBJECT IN THE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE

The subject Simulation and Optimization of Chemical Processes is a globalizing subject, which concentrate all the knowledge that the student has been acquired during their university career. At the University of Castilla-La Mancha, this subject has been raised as a nexus of knowledge, orienting towards the development of mathematical simulators, applied to specific cases. The main aim of this subject is that the student develop an own mathematical simulator to optimize a specific process. The development of a simulator project allows the students to recognize the effects of various simulation parameters and the essential parts of a simulator when they programme it. Thus, this project work helps students to know how commercial simulators works. On the other hand, working together in groups to produce one simulator satisfies several of the cooperative learning criteria i.e. positive interdependence, individual accountability, face-to-face interaction and development of interpersonal skills. Thanks to the project work, students develop many of the fundamental abilities for Chemical Engineering. In addition, this subject trains students to work as teams and obtain other necessary skills to work with others.