From Sparks to Skills: A Hands-On Energy Project as a Gateway to Engineering Competence

"What sparks student motivation in their very first semester? At our university, all Energy and Environmental Engineering 1st year students design, build, and test a biomass cookstove. This playful challenge stimulates belonging, builds teamwork, and gives students a first taste of the competences they will need as energy engineers. The result: a hands-on learning experience that virtually turns sparks into skills."