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Session 2354

Technology Based Entrepreneurship … an effective tool for promoting teamwork, creativity and innovation in students

José A. Cruz, Jaime A. Pabón, Miguel A. Torres, Jorge I. Vélez-Arocho University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez

I. Introduction

Traditionally engineering and business education has been oriented towards preparing professionals for the private sector. Today this sector demands from the universities a new graduate with skills that go far and beyond the traditional skills and competencies. Today’s graduates should be able to communicate their ideas effectively both orally and written, work in multidisciplinary teams, solve problems from a global and multilateral perspective, be entrepreneurs in the organization and have an understanding of the economic, social and cultural environments. These skills are indispensable to identify and capitalize on the opportunities that emerge in these environments. This requires a new approach in the professional educational process. This paper describes a strategy that the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez is following to contribute to this cultural change.

II. Why we need a new approach?

Today students are more conscious of the world around them. Therefore, they want an education that responds to their perceptions. Students validate their education and have the perception that their education is inadequate to manage the needs and business goals of industry. A fragmented curriculum does not satisfy this need. Students want an integrated education with a strong experiential component.

Industry recruits students with skills such as the ability to communicate effectively (verbally and written), to work in multidisciplinary teams, to have an entrepreneurial spirit, and with effective decision-making skills. The graduates should be aware of their cultural, social and economical environments (i.e. culture, language, diversity, art, etc.). Industry has stated that many engineering and business curriculums do not answer students' needs. The graduate should have a clear understanding of the need to be flexible when working with business problems. Flexibility here means being able to revise and to change the basis of decisions. This flexibility is essential to any business that wants to compete in a global diversified world.

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Torres-Febus, M., & Pabon-Ortiz, J., & Cruz-Cruz, J., & Velez-Arocho, J. (2001, June), Technology Based Entrepreneurship … An Effective Tool For Promoting Teamwork, Creativity And Innovation In Students Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9894