Location
West Lafayette, Indiana
DOI
10.5703/1288284316859
Abstract
The engineering challenges facing the world are very complex, and they require a new type of engineer who can work in interdisciplinary teams as well as multicultural teams to solve open-ended problems. Employers are looking for engineers who have not only technical competency but also systems (broad) and business mindsets. To develop these engineers, the R. B. Annis School of Engineering at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) developed the DesignSpine. The DesignSpine framework makes it possible to create interdisciplinary teams of students who apply knowledge and principles of Six Sigma, project management, research methods, entrepreneurship, and leadership and communication (SPREL). Furthermore, in the DesignSpine, students create innovative solutions to real-world problems from external stakeholders beginning from their sophomore year. This paper describes the DesignSpine framework and the implementation strategy.
UIndy Engineering DesignSpine: Engineering Leadership Development through Interdisciplinary Teams and Early Exposure to Real Life Problems
West Lafayette, Indiana
The engineering challenges facing the world are very complex, and they require a new type of engineer who can work in interdisciplinary teams as well as multicultural teams to solve open-ended problems. Employers are looking for engineers who have not only technical competency but also systems (broad) and business mindsets. To develop these engineers, the R. B. Annis School of Engineering at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) developed the DesignSpine. The DesignSpine framework makes it possible to create interdisciplinary teams of students who apply knowledge and principles of Six Sigma, project management, research methods, entrepreneurship, and leadership and communication (SPREL). Furthermore, in the DesignSpine, students create innovative solutions to real-world problems from external stakeholders beginning from their sophomore year. This paper describes the DesignSpine framework and the implementation strategy.
