Education into the future – Human factors courses with a systems perspective

For ergonomics/human factors solutions to be beneficial for society and its members it is vital to apply a systems level perspective. Students who will be the future engineers, designers, and managers of socio-technical systems need to gain an understanding of how ergonomics/human factors can be integrated in the design of workplaces, organisations, products, and services. This paper gives examples of how the systems perspective is realised in courses on ergonomics/human factors at the Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology (EAT) in the Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, Sweden. Examples are the application of theories and models of systems perspectives, guest lecturers from industry and other faculties, the use of supportive information technologies in teaching, arranging for student to visit and carry out projects in industrial settings, utilising peer assessment and written reflections to enhance learning, and communicating human factors research results. Strategies of the EAT educational environment that strengthen its teachers’ pedagogical abilities are also presented.