Metallurgy is taught as a part of degree programmes of process and environmental engineering at the University of Oulu in Finland and at the Luleå University of Technology in Sweden. In both universities metallurgy education is organised by units very closely linked with metallurgical industry which is the most significant employer of the students graduating in metallurgy. The purpose of this presentation is to consider the state of pedagogy in the education of metallurgy in these two universities with a dialogue of teachers representing both universities. The aim is not only to find the similarities and differences, but also to find ways to improve teaching and learning based on the ideas raised in the dialogue.

Key issues in the education of metallurgy, as in all engineering education, are the connections between theory and practice and how these connections are seen and adopted by students while their expertise in metallurgy develops. Our dialogue is based on how these connections are recognised and taken into account in teaching and learning of metallurgy as well as in the development of metallurgical expertise of both students and teachers. We will also discuss what kind of pedagogical solutions that can be used to support this development.