MATHEMATICS IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, UK-BASED PROFESSOR TELLS ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS AT VUT
By Nontobeko Moimane- 27 July 2023
Recently, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT)’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology hosted Dr Matheus de Andrade, an Assistant Professor from the University College London (UCL)in London, England. He was in the country on invitation to speak at the 6th Biennial Conference of the South African Society of Engineering Education that took place from 11 – 13 July 2023.
During his visit, Dr Matheus shared his expertise in integrated and connected engineering mathematics as part of the “Bringing Life to our Engineering Curricula” project (iecurricula.co.za). The project aims to review the engineering curricula holistically with input from students, academic staff, industry, and the engineering accreditation body (ECSA).
He stressed the importance of lasting change and innovation in teaching and learning to promote lifelong learning. He also advocated for curricular and pedagogic reforms to educate engineers by integrating knowledge and professional skills and embracing multidisciplinary learning.
Addressing the students during what was termed “Coffee Break with Dr Matheus de Andrade”, the UK-based professor encouraged them to view mathematics as a universal language and a tool for better understanding the world. He engaged them in a hands-on activity, modelling the flow of water streams connecting the North American Great Lakes using different equations and conservation of mass. This practical demonstration illustrated how mathematics can be applied to real-world situations and create new opportunities.
Dr Matheus is known for his expertise in designing and delivering engineering mathematics teaching at UCL, focusing on problem-based and student-centered learning, flipped learning, and mathematics teaching for sustainability. His contributions to educational reform earned him the 2020 UCL Engineering Education award, and he has been recognized as a leading example of collaborative engineering education in the 2022 CEEDA report.