Research–teaching nexus in electronic instrumentation, a tool to improve learning and knowledge of marine sciences and technologies

In higher education institutions, there is a strong interaction between research and teaching activities. This paper presents a case study on the research–teaching nexus based on an analysis of academic results related to the course “Instrumentation and Data Analyses in Marine Sciences” within the Marine Sciences and Technologies Bachelor’s Degree at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), taught at the Vilanova i la Geltrú campus (Barcelona, Spain). The start of this degree in the academic year 2018–2019 allowed the assignment of technological subjects in the degree to a research group with extensive experience in the research and development of marine technologies. The first section of this paper aims to provide a justification for establishing the Marine Sciences and Technologies Bachelor’s Degree. It highlights the necessity of this program and delves into the suitability of the profiles of the professors responsible for teaching marine technology subjects. Their entrepreneurial research trajectory and their competence in electronic instrumentation are strong arguments for their appropriateness. The next section of the paper explores a detailed analysis of academic results based on surveys and student performance indices. Through a thorough examination of these data, this case study demonstrates, within the context of all UPC degrees, that assigning a research group made up of experienced professors and researchers in the field who are accustomed to working as a team produces superior academic results compared to assignments to professors who do not work as a team. Teamwork presents specific skills necessary for operating the infrastructures and equipment associated with an experimental degree.

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Postprint (published version)