Ph.D. fellows

 

Chunfang Zhou
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 19
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 7211
 
My name is Chunfang Zhou. I come from Shenyang, Liaoning province in Northeastern China. Now I am a PhD student of UNESCO CHAIR in Problem Based Learning, Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, Denmark.
I have an engineering educational background when I was a bachelor. In 1998, I went to Liaoning Industry University and majored in control engineering and industry automation. After graduation from university, I had been a teacher for two years in a professional education school. From 2004 to 2008, I was a master student and then had one year PhD study experience in Northeastern University and major in philosophy of science and technology
 
Under the supported of Chinese government, I have an opportunity to study in Denmark. The PhD study was from December in 2008 and expected to finish in three years. How to develop engineering students’ group creativity is my main research topic during the study. Hopefully, my research will contribute to engineering education innovation both in Denmark and China.
 
RESEARCH INTEREST
Group creativity research in previous studies.
 
 
 
 
Huichun Li
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 84
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 7211
 
I am Huichun Li. I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University. I have finished my undergraduate and master program study in the School of Education, Beijing Normal University in China, majoring in higher education and education sociology from 2001 to 2008. During the study in China, I have finished some researches in general education, particularly, in the field of curriculum design, and the development of vocational colleges.
My PhD proposal is about the organizational change to PBL (problem based learning) in engineering education, with a special focus on the major driving forces that stimulate the higher education institutions to make the decision to implement change, and the contributors that sustain the change process. These issues are of great importance for the educational institution who is in the changing process to PBL. I look forward to communicating with all of you who might be interested in this topic.
 
RESEARCH INTEREST
PBL in engineering education
 
 
 
 
 
Jan Schlünssen
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Lautrupvang 15
DK - 2750 Ballerup
Phone: 4480 5127
 
 
My name is Jan Schlünssen. I have been enrolled at AAU since August 2009 – again, for writing my PhD dissertation. I say again because I started my life as a student at AAU back in 1976 for my Master of Business Economics. I came back as a part-time student in the 90s as a student of history.
I have had a career in Sales and Marketing and at present I have permanent tenure at Copenhagen University College of Engineering, where I teach at the Department of Further Education – business studies. I have classes in Innovation and Entrepreneurship for our regular engineering students. This work has inspired me to research the topic for my PhD.
 
The title is “Applied Innovation and Intrapreneurship in Knowledge Based Companies and Its Implications for Engineering Studies”. My interest is how to incorporate this area into a PBL setting – so that when you work with a problem, you incorporate these aspects in your normal routine. At present this area is typically an add-on in educational programs – and hence is not perceived as an integrated and necessary part of an engineering education.
 
 
  
 
 
Verner Larsen
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Chr. M. Østergaards Vej 4
DK - 8700 Horsens
vla@plan.aau.dk
 
EDUCATION HISTORY
I am Ph.D.- student at AAU, but employed at VIA-University Colleges, Campus Horsens, where I lecture approx. 25 % of the time. So 75 % is spent on studying, which means, that I will complete my Ph.D. within four years instead of three. Problem- and project based learning environments has been of great interest through many years, and I have worked with this topic in various contexts. One of the major challenges – and difficulties – I have experienced in implementing PBL has been the interplay between the course curriculum and the Problem based curriculum. The need for disciplines and boundaries between such does not disappear by implementing PBL, but the conception of disciplines may change. So the title of my Ph.D.-project is “New disciplinary identities in problem- and project based educations”, where I want to find out how disciplines – or “disciplinarity” - is conceptualized in organizations, that have adopted the PBL-principles.
 
 
  
   
  
 
Annette Grunwald
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room:19
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 8285
 
Ph.d. Annette Grunwald
AAU, Institut for Planlægning – samfundsudvikling og planlægning

Title: Attractiveness/recruitment to technical education and outreach activities.


The project is concerned within the research field “Problem Based Learning” and focuses on methodologies for attractiveness/recruitment to technical education and institution´s outreach activities. The research is attached to established projects and deals with the effects of new ways of learning and collaborating within a network among university, The University College, primary and secondary schools, municipalities, companies and other actors, in order to increase the general interest for natural sciences and engineering. The research encompasses active collaboration with practitioners from organizations within the above network. The aims are to identify the implications practical experiences have on pupils interest in technical education. The study area also includes an outreach for groups that usually does not regard engineering and natural sciences as an educational possibility; amongst others by analyzing the links between learning, practice, meaning and motivation.
Period: Dec. 2010 – Nov. 2013 
 

 
ZHANG Fen-zhi
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 84
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 8372
 
EDUCATION HISTORY
From Aug 2009 to present, phd student in department of planning and development, Aalborg university, problem-based learning and engineering education program.
From Sep. 2008 to present, Doctoral student of a continuous academic project that involves postgraduate and doctoral study in School of Education, Beijing Normal University, Major in Higher Education.
From Sep. 2006 to Jun. 2008, Master student of School of Education, Beijing Normal University , Major in Comparative Education.
From Sep. 2002 to Jun. 2006, Bachelor of Education Department, Henan Normal University, Major in Pedegogy.
 
RESEARCH INTEREST
Problem-based learning and innovation competencies
 
 
 
 
Tanveer Maken
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 70 B
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 3695
 
 
I am Tanveer Hussain Maken, I came from Pakistan, from there I have a Master degree in Science Education(M.S.Ed) from the Institute of Education and Research(IER) Punjab University Lahore, Later I got the Erasmus Mundus scholarship for European Master Degree in Lifelong learning: Policy and Management(MALLL) which was jointly run by the School of Education(DPU)Arhus University Denmark, Deusto University Bilbao Spain and the Institute of Education(IOE)University of London.

Now from September 2010, I have got the funding from the project “Mobility for Life” to proceed my PhD here at the Department of Development and Planning at the Unit of UNESCO chair on problem-based learning.
 
 
 
Prarthana Coffin
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 42
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 7203

 

My name is Prarthana Coffin. I am currently a PhD student of UNESCO CHAIR in Problem Based Learning, Department of Development and Planning, at Aalborg University and also employed at Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) in Thailand. I completed my Master Degree in ESL Education from the University of Toledo, USA, in 2001. I have been teaching in the English language field both in the US and Thailand for 10 years. During the 5 year period (2005- present) I have worked at MFU, and besides teaching I am also involved in syllabus design and professional development/ staff training.

My PhD proposal is about implementing PBL into language education, particularly with a special focus on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. My studies will also involve syllabus design in PBL organized for EFL courses and also look into staff training, a preparation for a PBL organized learning environment.

RESEARCH INTEREST
Innovative Syllabus Design (PBL in EFL Syllabus) and Professional Development in Innovative Teaching Methodologies.

 

 
Mohamad Termizi Bin Borhan
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 70 B
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 3695
 

I`m mohamad Termizi bin Borhan, from Malaysia. I have been appointed for a faculty position in Sultan Idris Education University (Malaysia) and am now given the opportunity to pursue higher studies towards getting my PhD in Aalborg University, Denmark. My major research interest is the synergy of the problem-based learning (PBL) and Education for Sustainable Development (EfSD) in teacher education.

University Education:
M.Ed : Concentration in Science Education 2008-2009
University : Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) (www.usm.my)
Final Paper Project : Title; The Effect of Project Based Learning on Pre-Service
Teachers` Environmental Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour.
B.Ed (Hons) : Concentration in Science Education 2003-2007
University : Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (www.upsi.edu.my)
Final Paper Project : Title; The Tendency of Brain Hemispheric Usage Among Pre-School Pupils.
 

 

 

 

 

 
Vikas S. Shinde
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 19
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 7211
 
 
My name is Vikas V.Shinde. I come from Lonavala,Maharashtra, eastern part of India. Now, I am a PhD student of UNESCO CHAIR in Problem Based Learning, Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, Denmark.
I have an engineering educational background with specialization in mechanical engineering. I completed my bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1999 from Shivaji University Kolhapur, India. Then I went to Bhopal, India to per sue my masters in Maintenance Engineering. I completed my masters in 2002 from Maulan Azad National Institute of Technology,(MANIT) Bhopal.

After completion of masters I joined as a lecturer in engineering school located in Bhopal.
Currently, I am working as a Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department of Sinhgad Institute Of Technology, Lonavala. I have nine years teaching experience of university courses related to mechanical, production and design engineering. I published nine national and three international papers in respective conferences. Also, published a book on Aspects of Material Handling and e-learning material.

Under the Erasmus Mundus Mobility Of Life programme scholarship and due to support from Sinhgad Technical Education Society, Pune, I have an opportunity to study in Denmark. I started my mobility in September 2010 and expected to complete my PhD research in 2013. As a university teacher I have a deep interest in education so I choose to work in the area of Project Based Learning (PBL) relatively very new concept in engineering education in India.
 
Within PBL environment my research area is PBL based curriculum design to achieve relevant skills which is demand from new age engineers. Also, I am keen to develop the methodology which will leads to successful engineering projects. Hope to contribute to engineering education both in Denmark and India.

Research Interest

PBL based curriculum design and project management.
 
Literature review on PBL
 
 

 

 

 
Bente Nørgaard
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Niels Jernes Vej 10
Room: A1
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940 9869
 
 
 
 
Aida Guerra
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 79
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940
 
 
My name is Aida Guerra and I am from Portugal. I am currently a PhD student of UNESCO CHAIR in Problem Based Learning, Department of Development and Planning, at Aalborg University. The main themes of my research project are: Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Engineering Education and Sustainability.
I have a degree in Science Education which allows me to teach Biology and Geology up to secondary levels. Therefore my first professional experience was teaching middle and secondary school students. I got this first degree at the Faculty of Sciences of Oporto University (Portugal), comprising classes at several scientific areas (Biology, Geology and also Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Psychology and Social Sciences).
After my first degree, I got the Master degree also in Science Education, specifically in PBL, Sustainability and Environment Education in the Department of Geology at the Faculty of Sciences of Oporto University. After my Master degree, I was a visitor student at the PBL PhD program in the Department of Development and Planning at the Aalborg University for two months, where I could increase my knowledge about PBL and PBL models used in Engineering Education and Medicine.
 
  
 
 
 
Mahyuddin bin Arsat
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room: 79
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone: 9940
 
Working experience
 
2006: Appointed as a Tutor for Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia
2007: Appointed as a Lecturer for Department of Technical and Engineering Education, Faculty of Education, UTM.
Education history

2006: B.Eng in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunication)
2007: M.Eng in Electrical Engineering (Electronics and Telecommunication)
2011: PhD students for UNESCO Chair in PBL
 
Research interest

Previous research: Acoustic analysis in passenger cabin and Radio over Fibre Communication system design and analysis.
Current research: Problem based Learning, Sustainability and Engineering Education
 
 
 
Mahasti Tafahomi
PhD fellow
Department of Development and Planning
Fibigerstræde 13
Room:
DK - 9220 Aalborg Ø
Phone:
 
According to an estimate by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in 2009 there were 43,3 million refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) worldwide due to conflict and persecution, the highest number since the mid-1990s.(2009, Global Trends Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Returnees, Internally Displaced and Stateless Persons Division of Programme Support and Management 15 June 2010)
The findings of a study by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the IDMC, indicate that at least 36 million people were displaced by sudden-onset natural disasters in 2008. Of those, over 20 million were displaced by sudden onset climate-related disasters.
These reports from the United Nations (UN) indicate a global increase in the number of refugees as a result of natural and man-made disasters due to climate change and increasing levels of conflict. As a result, there is an increasing need for both short- and long-term relief aid, including post-disaster emergency shelters.