Michigan Tech's Enterprise Program gives teams of students the opportunity to participate in real-world settings to solve engineering problems supplied by industry partners. The Program prepares students for the challenges that await them after their educations, and gives new perspectives to sponsors, businesses and organizations who participate.

About Michigan Tech & Innovative, Interdisciplinary Learning

The decade of the 90's emerged as a time for change in Engineering Education. In response, the College of Engineering at Michigan Tech has become a national leader in innovative programs; among the new standards we strive for in the College of Engineering are education across disciplines, team learning and undergraduate research.

One of our major efforts is to promote a learning atmosphere where faculty serve as mentors and coaches; that is, they move from simply imparting knowledge to helping students discover knowledge. Envision engineering programs that include concepts such as sustainability, ethics, safety, business processes, innovation, creativity and communication programs where inquiry and innovation are the norm, where learning and application go hand-in-hand, and where students and faculty work in a team environment on problems of significance to industry.

An Innovative Concept

In the fall of 2000, Michigan Tech introduced a new engineering curriculum option intended to serve the needs of both students and industry. Called the Enterprise Program, the new curriculum gives a team of students from varied disciplines the opportunity to work for several years in a business-like setting to solve real-world engineering problems supplied by industry.

A Typical Enterprise

Each enterprise is intended to operate like a real company in the private sector and is run by the students. Depending on student demand and industry support, 10-20 engineering entities will be established by the College of Engineering and the University. Each will consist of 20-30 student team members and will have a specific engineering or interdisciplinary mission or set of expertise.

All Enterprise team members will have prescribed responsibilities corresponding to their level of maturity, abilities, and technical education. Within the projects, they will perform testing and analyses, make recommendations, manufacture parts, stay within budgets and schedules, and manage multiple projects while faculty members will act as coaches and mentors. Amid this exposure to other academic disciplines, the regular engineering regimen will remain rigorous.

Deliverables

At the end of April of each year, enterprise teams submit detailed written reports that include results of their specific projects. The students also make an oral presentation to their faculty and industry mentors. Upon request, they will give a presentation on-site or via video teleconference to the industry partners.

Benefits for Companies & Industry Sponsors:

• Sponsors get a fresh look at important engineering problems and potential solutions - through the eyes of an unbiased team
  
• Sponsors benefit from unique university facilities and faculty expertise to industrial projects
  
• Sponsors receive exposure to the latest tools, techniques and theory from one of the nation's premier engineering schools
  
• Sponsors make first-hand observations of the capabilities of undergraduates in one of the largest engineering schools in the nation
  
• Sponsors have the opportunity to gain exposure for your company among talented engineering students with strong technical and business skills

Benefits for Students

• Students gain hands-on experience solving real-world engineering problems by applying both technical and business skills
  
• Students get exposure to the complications of a real engineering project
  
• Students learn how to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills
  
• Students practice managerial judgement and project management skills
  
• Students experience the importance of teamwork in engineering and the challenges associated with working on a diverse, cross-functional team
  
• Students address multiple objectives, accomplish multiple goals, and communicate effectively with diverse constituents