First Year Seminar

A PROJECT TO FACILITATE INTEGRATION AND EXPLORATION OF UNIVERSITY LIFE

The “First Year Seminars” project is a support program for first-year bioengineering students, combining elements of a course with academic success support.

Inspired by practices at English-speaking universities, it aims to help students successfully transition to college by developing essential academic and personal skills:

• gradually becoming independent in their learning;
• developing transferable skills (organization, communication, critical thinking);
• integrate into their class and their new university environment;
• strengthen their motivation by finding meaning in their studies;
• take charge of their academic journey by choosing and exploring a topic that interests them;
• facilitate the transition from high school to college.

The program is based on two types of complementary activities:

1. Small-group work

Students choose a topic proposed by faculty members and work in teams throughout the four-month term.

Teachers serve as guides, supporting students in their thinking and their projects.

2. Cross-disciplinary sessions

At the same time, group sessions are organized to develop skills useful across all topics:

• work organization;
• decision-making;
• structuring of thought;
• searching for scientific information;
• peer review.

Proposed Topics

The topics are varied and allow students to explore different aspects of the bioengineering profession:

• participatory management of tropical forests (design of a serious game)
• insects (creation of short video clips)
• plants and their uses
• irrigation and water management
• the food of the future
• Food Practices Around the World
• Factors influencing public opinion and communicating messages to the public
• Changes in land use, based on tables and field visits.