Abstract
Flipped Classroom approach was implemented in an Automation course with around 100 students. Videos focused on GRAFCET topics were given to students prior to class and problem-based challenges were solved in class by the students in a collaborative way. The teacher’s role was to guide students in their learning process. The goal was to identify students’ behavior regarding this learning approach, and the videos in particular, by using questionnaires. Result analysis shows a positive feedback from students motivating teachers to enlarge this learning approach to other courses. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.

Abstract
Practice is of the essence in Engineering courses. A relevant question in control engineering education is: How to close the gap between theory and practice? Once subjects are introduced in theoretical classes, students want to know about its practical use. Thus, it is important to introduce theoretical control concepts with practical experiments, enabling students to easily test and validate the theory. An Arduino based temperature control laboratory (TCLab) is deployed in this study as a portable kit providing students with a simple and effective means to test some feedback control techniques. Teaching/learning experiments are proposed involving proportional, integral and derivative controllers with Feedforward and Cascade control structures. Preliminary results achieved in a Portuguese university are presented. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.

Abstract
The dropout of university students has been a factor of concern for educational institutions, affecting various aspects such as the institution’s reputation and funding and rankings. For this reason, it is essential to identify which students are at risk. In this study, algorithms based on decision trees and random forests are proposed to solve these problems using real data from 331 students from the University of Trásos-Montes and Alto Douro. In this work with these learning algorithms together with the training strategies, we managed to obtain an 89% forecast of students who may abandon their studies based on the evaluations of both semesters related to the first year and personal data. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Abstract
Many undergraduate engineering students have just a single introductory feedback control course in their study list. Often the curricula found in such courses is totally based on continuous time-domain classic control techniques. However, currently most control design techniques are implemented in digital machines. Thus, digital control concepts should be covered in introductory control courses. In this paper, the issue of how to implement and test digital industrial controllers is addressed. Teaching experiments based on the APMonitor temperature control lab (TCLab) are proposed. It will be shown that TCLab as an Arduino based portable kit, provides an excellent means to test digital controllers, as it is a compact and portable lab to be used by lecturers and students. While there are many low-cost and portable hardware options for teaching dynamics and control, a novel aspect of this paper is the digital control education methods that are validated with classroom experience, particularly with Biomedical and Bioengineering students. Preliminary results are presented. Copyright (C) 2020 The Authors.

Abstract
The robotic grasping task persists as a modern industry problem that seeks autonomous, fast implementation, and efficient techniques. Domestic robots are also a reality demanding a delicate and accurate human-machine interaction, with precise robotic grasping and handling. From decades ago, with analytical heuristics, to recent days, with the new deep learning policies, grasping in complex scenarios is still the aim of several works' that propose distinctive approaches. In this context, this paper aims to cover recent methodologies' development and discuss them, showing state-of-the-art challenges and the gap to industrial applications deployment. Given the complexity of the related issue associated with the elaborated proposed methods, this paper formulates some fair and transparent definitions for results' assessment to provide researchers with a clear and standardised idea of the comparison between the new proposals.

Abstract
The study analyzed several instruments of the master-integrated course in Electrical and Computer Engineering at a Portuguese Public University. The institutional drivers responsible for adopting new methodologies in the course were evaluated. A case study was carried out with a qualitative approach based on mixed methods: a statistical analysis applied to textual corpus and complemented by content analysis. As a result, two classes of content analysis emerged: skills and knowledge expected from students; and aspects of training in Electrical Engineering and the study cycle. Seven drivers were identified for the adoption of new methodologies in the course, based on the theories of diffusion of innovation and institutional theory: training, development, competence, study cycle, new, technology, and UC. Each of these drivers has its outcomes, 16 in total, which shows the effects perceived by the teachers, course coordinators and evaluators.