Case Study: Aalborg University achieves accelerated problem‑based learning and streamlined industry collaboration with MathWorks

Aalborg University Pioneers Problem-Based Learning

Aalborg University (AAU) uses a project‑organized, problem‑based learning (PBL) curriculum that requires students to complete industry‑style projects each semester and quickly move from theory to implementation. To avoid time lost to hand coding and to streamline collaboration with industry partners, AAU adopted MathWorks tools—notably MATLAB and Simulink—as its common, high‑level programming and simulation platform.

MathWorks delivered a Campus‑Wide License for MATLAB, Simulink, and companion toolboxes, giving campus‑wide and laptop access and integrating Model‑Based Design throughout courses and projects (students spend roughly 50% of their time on project work). The result: multidisciplinary projects became easier to run, industry collaboration was streamlined by model sharing, teams met tight semester deadlines more quickly, and students produced deployable outputs—using Simulink Coder to generate production code for a marine‑boiler project and developing flight‑control software for microsatellites that were put into orbit.

Aalborg University

Jakob Stoustrup

Professor