Assoc. Prof. Dr Reza Vatankhah Barenji

Teaching and leadership experiences in Mechanical and Industrial engineering education

Albert Einstein - "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."

Teaching Philosophy and Responsibilities

My enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are equal to my commitment to research because I envision teaching and mentoring as an integral part of my career profile. During the past years, I have had the opportunity to advise and train people at various levels, leading to rewarding feedback for both my research and teaching work. I develop my teaching philosophy from my experience as a student, teaching assistant, lecturer, senior lecturer, and associate professor at three different universities (i.e. Tabriz Azad University, Eastern Mediterranean University, Hacettepe University) in two different languages English and Farsi.

When I was a graduate student, I had the chance to be a teaching assistant at Azad University of Tabriz for the workshop courses (i.e. Machining, Welding, Casting, Heat treatment). My duties were teaching each of the facilities to a group of students and give support to them when they should repeat the task.  After graduation in MS, I started to teach the “engineering graphics” course to 150 students on laboratory assignments, giving laboratory tutorials, and grading reports and exams. For the next three semesters at the same department.

When I started my Ph.D., Eastern Mediterranean University offered me a full-time teaching assistant (2007-2011). During the period I taught Technical Drawing, Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), Manufacturing Processes, Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) courses. I was responsible to lecture, supplement courses materials, and assist students in understanding the principles of the courses.  Meanwhile, I taught SolidWorks software in the MENG303 course. With excellent evaluations from students, the department offered me a lecturer position (2011-2014). Teaching is one of the most rewarding experiences that contributed to my passion for research. I learned a great deal about how to strengthen students’ understanding of the principles and practice, and supervise them to conduct engineering projects, and develop their own research interests. Besides teaching at the undergraduate course level, I was also invited to give guest lectures in some graduate courses on topics related to my research. In September 2014, I started to work as a senior lecturer and was then promoted to associate professor grade in the department of industrial engineering, Hacettepe University. In this department I found the opportunity to teach graduate courses and be a module leader to my own technical elective courses for undergraduate and graduate students. 

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As a researcher in the engineering field, it is my responsibility to play a role in the discovery of new knowledge. As a teacher, however, I believe an even greater responsibility is the perpetuation of the field and its current body of knowledge. Teaching allows me to promote the discipline to which I have devoted a significant portion of my life, and to show people the beauty of computation in terms of science, technology, and mathematics.

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Description of Teaching Methodology

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My teaching methodology is based on the foundation of my educational experience, which has given me the important knowledge that I would like to apply. This knowledge can be categorized into three parts.

Firstly, one of the important responsibilities of a teacher is to provide and categorized the necessary knowledge for the career and future of learners. Well-organized lecture notes with a carefully selected example may raise students’ interests and curiosity, and motivate their further studies. To explain complex concepts or solve challenging problems, I strive to use intuitive examples related to real-industrial issues to illustrate the basic laws under them. I always encourage students to focus on fundamental principles and deductive reasoning instead of simply memorizing the results. I also assign homework and evaluate students’ performance regularly, which reflects whether or not the presented materials are well absorbed. Meanwhile, I updated my lectures to my website to expose students to state-of-the-art technologies and future trends so that students can be well prepared for their future careers.

Second, the interaction commitments between students and the instructor are very important to make teaching and learning an interesting, rich, and rewarding experience for both parties. I like to stimulate the students through my enthusiasm for the course material since I believe enthusiasm is contagious in the class. I encourage students to actively participate in the teaching and learning process. By raising questions and arguments on a subject, I try to guide students on the right way to solve problems through in-class discussions and debates for arriving at suitable communication between student and teacher.

Third, but not less important, as a teacher I believe that one of the first things I have to learn for students is searching methods on the internet and how can share his/her knowledge on a suitable platform. For example, I and my students in the computer-aided engineering course have GrabCad accounts and always we share our works on this platform, this job not only improves the motivation of the students but also improves the searching knowledge of students, that very helps for a future career.

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Teaching Improvement Activities

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Every academic year, I am using the students’ assessment to improve my teaching capabilities and to expand the content of the course. Moreover, along with my research, I am trying to include the newly merged topics in my courses as examples in the supply chain management course in the last two weeks of the semester I am highlighting the improvements in the “Industry4.0” context.

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Future Teaching Goals

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According to my research and teaching background, my current teaching interests focus principally on digital manufacturing engineering and smart manufacturing, which embodies the following topics:

General course:

• Engineering mathematics

• Statics

• Strength of materials

• Mechanical Engineering Design, and Drafting

• Manufacturing processes

Technical course (for BS, MS, and Ph.D.)

• Computer-aided engineering

• CAD/CAM

• Intelligent Manufacturing

• Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)

• New product development (NPD)

• Information communication technology in manufacturing

• Modern manufacturing process

• Applied Petri-Nets

• Virtual Manufacturing

My major interest in teaching is CAD/CAM, CAE, CIM, and intelligent manufacturing at both undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to the standard classroom experience, I have considerable interest and experience in the use of 3 Axis CNC mill, 5 Axis CNC mill, 3 Axis CNC lathe, CMM, 3D printer, 3D scanner, and EDM machines to produce industrial/research dies and parts. In addition, I am an expert on using SolidWorks and PowerMILL CAM applications.

In particular, my vision for my teaching is to:

• Provide the student with professional skills which are in line with his/her future role in design and manufacturing industries;

• Develop students’ professional competence in evaluating and developing various technical aspects of the multi-disciplinary activities associated with design, manufacturing, and IT technologies;

• Provide the student with the opportunity to demonstrate his/her ability to design and conduct a program of work aimed at providing solutions to an appropriate industrial problem.

The philosophy of group working is particularly beneficial in promoting a systematic attitude towards combining principles of different technologies to form an optimal design concept. It promotes maturity and responsibility through a planned team effort. Teaching gives me the ability to produce the results I desire most and helps me create values for others in the process.

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My teaching experience 

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I have been teaching as an academic since 2006. My international teaching experience spans several countries

1. Department of Industrial Engineering, Hacettepe University Turkey (Since 2014)

2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus (2007-2014)

3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Azad University of Tabriz, Iran (2006-2007)

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I have taught various courses for mechanical engineering, and Industrial engineering programs at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The list can be found below:

Department of Industrial Engineering in Hacettepe University:

(The medium of instruction at Hacettepe University is English)

• EMU101 - Introduction to Industrial Engineering

• EMU102-Computer Aided Technical Drawing   

• EMU451-Computer-Aided Manufacturing  

• EMU461-New product development

• EMU452-Applied Petri-Nets (Course module leader)

• EMU401-System analysis and design I

• EMU402-system analysis and design II

• EMU446-Supply Chain Management

• EMU242-Work Analysis and Design

• EMU466-Technology and Innovation Management

• EMU440-Fundamentals of Industry 4.0 (Course module leader)

• EMU453-Measurement and Instrumentations (Course module leader)

• EMU643-Manufacturing Processes (Post Graduate)

• EMU644-Virtual manufacturing (Post Graduate) (Course module leader)

• EMÜ691 - Special Problems in Industrial Engineering (Post Graduate)

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Department of Mechanical Engineering in Eastern Mediterranean University

(The medium of instruction at EMU is English)

• MENG104-Engineering Graphics 

• MENG303-Principles of CAE 

• MENG410-Introduction to Capstone Design 

• MENG364-Manufacturing Technology 

• MENG222-Strength of Materials 

• CIVL211-Statics 

• MENG190-Introduction to Mechanical Engineering 

• MECT361-Mechatronics Components and Instrumentation 

• MECT375-Machine Elements 

• MENG464 Computer Integrated Manufacturing

• MENG 562 Advanced CAD/CAM (Post Graduate)

• MENG 561 Manufacturing Systems Engineering (Post Graduate)

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Azad University of Tabriz:  

• Static

• Strength of Material I

• Engineering Mathematics

• Engineering Drawing

• Manufacturing Technology

• Hydraulic &Pneumatics

• Computer-Aided Design

• Numerical Control Machines