Uruguay – Even with electric cars, education always moves forward
Featured

05 June 2019

(ANS - Montevideo) - The taste for transcending, to go beyond what we are used to, to give priority to teamwork and the positive climate: these are the characteristics of the "Talleres Don Bosco" for Automotive Mechanics students, who do innovation through electric vehicles.

Alejandro Bastos, Educational Officer of the "Talleres Don Bosco", explains how one can educate by innovating and what are the particularities that make the projects that are fulfilled in his institution, as he says, different.

"Talleres Don Bosco" maintains a training program for projects, where it is possible to attend higher middle school education courses. Therefore, on the one hand, there are high schools and on the other vocational training. Within the latter, all the courses have a final project. This project-based learning starts with a problem that needs to be researched, alternatives sought, designed and engineered, planned, estimates made and finally worked out in practice.

One of the great challenges that "Talleres Don Bosco" must face is to go in search of constant and ongoing updates, both from a technical and a technological point of view. And given the costs involved, priority is given to investing in certain sectors.

"In Europe by 2022 it will no longer be possible to produce combustion vehicles. Little by little, some vehicles are being launched here, but there is nobody trained in their maintenance. There are increasingly more teams, but maintenance is not yet addressed and we want to be involved; it is part of our technical training," explains Alejandro.

As regards the automotive mechanics laboratory, the first objective is to apply the project-based methodology. A second goal is to start making progress in technical innovation, through other alternative automotive systems.

"Talleres Don Bosco" has adhered to the "Desafío Eléctrico" (Electrical Challenge) Association, in which about 20 technical schools from all over the country participate, and which provides two kits for the construction of electric vehicles. Young people must form groups of eight to maximum 12 students, with those who develop the project, to try to put it into practice by creating a vehicle, which will then be presented in competition by the students themselves. For this they will have to raise funds and finance the rest of the construction.

Patrick Hunkeler, a 20-year-old boy involved in this initiative, points out: "We work very practically and this, in short, helps you. Being in direct contact with all the materials, we relate to what our environment will be. It is important to be able to be organized and work together to work in the best way, and we are looking for cooperation and a good atmosphere."

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes. By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more or to opt out, click "Further Information".