IN-PERSON MADRID FOCUS ON PEDAGOGY. SECTION B

Abstract

In an era defined by complexity and transformation, higher education must equip students with the skills to collaborate across disciplines and address real-world challenges. This proposal introduces a newly designed Honors College course that uses a project-based learning model to bring together students from diverse academic backgrounds to co-create solutions to authentic community problems. Through this experiential approach, students develop essential competencies such as effective communication, ethical reasoning, cultural and linguistic awareness, and applied disciplinary knowledge. The course structure encourages deep engagement, creativity, and leadership, allowing students to move beyond traditional classroom boundaries and into collaborative spaces where their ideas make a tangible impact. Designed to meet UTRGV’s requirements for the Seal of Biliteracy, the course also affirms students’ bilingualism and biculturalism as strengths. It supports the development of academic and professional skills in more than one language, reflecting the sociolinguistic richness of the Rio Grande Valley. By bridging community engagement, language equity, and academic rigor, the course provides an innovative model of contemporary teaching that prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The presentation will include student voices and project outcomes, illustrating the transformative potential of project-based honors education rooted in collaboration, reflection, and meaningful community impact.