Integrating Professional Standards into Project-Based Learning: Evaluating an Innovative Model for Water Engineering Education in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20262613Keywords:
Profession-Oriented Project-Based Learning, Professional Standards, Water Engineering Education, Cognitive Achievement, EffectivenessAbstract
Engineering education increasingly demands instructional approaches that connect academic knowledge with the professional competencies required in contemporary engineering practice. Responding to this need, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Profession-Oriented Project-Based Learning (PO-PBL) model that integrates professional engineering standards into the Water Infrastructure Design course at Universitas Ekasakti, Padang, Indonesia. The PO-PBL model embeds technical, ethical, and managerial competencies throughout the project cycle to strengthen students’ conceptual mastery and professional readiness. Using a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design, the study involved 65 undergraduate students divided into an experimental class (n = 32) and a control class (n = 33). Data were collected through 40-item pretests and posttests, a 20-item Likert-scale survey on engagement and professional perception, and a rubric-based evaluation of project performance. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and analysis of covariance, indicated that students in the experimental class achieved higher posttest scores, greater learning gains, and stronger project outcomes than those in the control class. Survey responses also revealed higher levels of motivation, collaboration, and perceived professional relevance among students exposed to the PO-PBL model. These results suggest that integrating professional standards into project-based learning enhances the authenticity and purposefulness of instructional activities, thereby improving both cognitive achievement and professional competence. Overall, the PO-PBL model offers a practical and scalable framework for aligning engineering education with national professional expectations and supporting the development of industry-ready water engineering graduates in Indonesia.
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