Integrating innovation in air transport systems: a challenge-based approach at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Resumen

The rapid change in demand for requirements presents companies with the challenge of updating their service offerings, having trained personnel available, and providing teacherswith the ability to offer training that meets professional needs. Terms such as "digital transformation," "circular economy," "augmented reality," and "artificial intelligence" are oftenmentioned but not fully implemented in real-world business applications.

This concern, when applied to teaching and with the aim of motivating students in the Master's Degree in Air Transport Systems at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid to seekinnovative proposals, has been addressed through the challenge methodology. The CHALLENGE presented is to design an improvement proposal and an implementation plan forintegrating innovation into the management system, supported by artificial intelligence tools. Each semester, a specific challenge will be proposed, lasting the equivalent of twoweeks, with an intermediate follow-up and a final evaluation. The challenge will have a duration of two weeks. During the first semester, participating students can obtain acommitment-level credential; during the second semester, continuing students will achieve an action-level credential.
SEMESTER 1. Teaching approach: case study. Students will become familiar with the concepts of the circular economy and artificial intelligence. Work will focus on identifying anddocumenting successful cases where these concepts are used. The result will be an infographic; a vote will be held to select those cases that, due to their interest and opportunity,serve as inspiration for the objective of improving management systems.

SEMESTER 2. Business approach: preparation of improvement proposals. Students will work on an improvement proposal for the integrated management system using AI tools assupport. The result will be an implementation plan presented to the evaluation committee. The final result will be a post hosted on the course blog.
Taking into account the impact of the activity, students will be granted EELISA (European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance) badges at different levels.