A Course on Applied Superconductivity Shared by Four Departments

In this paper a course on applied superconductivity is described. The course structure is outlined and the learning objectives and the learning activities are described. The teaching was multidisciplinary given by four departments each contributing with their expertise. Being applied superconductivity the focus was on an application, which could benefit from using superconductors.

The application used in this course was superconducting generators for direct drive wind turbines. As part of the course the students built a small-scale superconducting machine and set up finite element models of that machine as well as large-scale wind turbine generators with superconductors and also permanent magnet generators.

The course was assessed by a student conference contribution and reports from the students. The quality of the course was evaluated by interviewing the students after the course had finished. The students were very pleased with the course and gave suggestions of how the course could be improved further.