CDIO Projects in Electronic Engineering Education: An Educational Innovation at the University of Quindío

Abstract

Engineering education is undergoing a profound transformation driven by technological advances, digitalization, automation, and the evolving demands of global industry. These challenges require a shift from traditional teaching models toward approaches that foster practical competencies, problem-solving skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and active engagement with real-world contexts. Within this framework, the CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) initiative emerges as a comprehensive pedagogical model that bridges theory and practice while positioning students at the center of the learning process. This article presents the implementation of the CDIO framework in the Electronic Engineering program at the University of Quindío (Colombia) as an innovative curricular strategy aimed at strengthening professional training through active, contextualized, and project-based learning. The paper describes the methodological foundations, stages of design and implementation, and the progressive integration of the CDIO model into the curriculum, as well as strategies for engagement with industrial sectors, local communities, and external stakeholders. Based on a sequential mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes data collected between 2021 and 2024, combining quantitative performance indicators with qualitative evidence from surveys, interviews, and project documentation. The results reveal significant improvements in the development of technical, transversal, and socio-emotional competencies, as well as increased student motivation, retention, and the ability to design and implement relevant technological solutions. Furthermore, the implementation of CDIO has enhanced the university-industry-society relationship, thereby increasing the social relevance of engineering education. These findings demonstrate that the CDIO framework is an effective tool for addressing contemporary challenges in higher education and for preparing future engineers capable of leading innovation and technological transformation in complex and dynamic environments.