The synergistic relationship between experiential learning and safety culture in industrial engineering students during the pandemic

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze how experiential learning is synergistically related to the development of a safety culture, under the special conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic in university students. The methodological approach was focused on a triangulated mixed design perspective, which allows integration of the qualitative and quantitative results derived from the educational experience of the pilot implementation of the model with a sample of students of the VII cycle of the Industrial Engineering program. The results obtained showed the relevance of the application of experiential learning to achieve the development of a safety culture in students. It was observed that active experimentation was the experiential learning factor that was most closely related to training in safety and skills. In this way, experiential learning through dynamism and experiential experiences manages to generate a safety culture. In conclusion, experiential learning manages to be an adequate strategy for the development of a culture of safety in students.    

Keywords: Experiential learning;  industrial engineering; pandemic; risks; safety culture.