Irene Rothe

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Irene Rothe is a dedicated educator and researcher in engineering pedagogy, with a focus on project-based learning and student engagement at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences. Her work centers on designing innovative educational frameworks that ease the transition of first-year engineering students into higher education, particularly in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. In her most-cited paper (10 citations), Rothe introduced a "starter-project" that replaces traditional introductory coursework with a three-week, hands-on project-based learning module, emphasizing self-learning and team collaboration to build foundational skills early. She further extended this approach by organizing a Lego-robots contest for high school students, facilitated by engineering undergraduates (4 citations), creating a real-world, service-learning environment that allows students to apply their knowledge while inspiring the next generation. Rothe’s contributions highlight the power of experiential education in engineering, demonstrating how short-term, intensive projects can improve student retention, motivation, and teamwork. Her work is notable for bridging the gap between secondary and higher education, and for fostering community outreach through engineering. With a career dedicated to curriculum innovation, Rothe’s research continues to influence how engineering programs structure their first-year experiences.