Johnson ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 From the Entrepreneurially Minded Learning Framework to Economic Development: Expanding the Three C’s with Six I’s AbstractKEEN's well-established entrepreneurial mindset model is a crucial catalyst in training engineers to seekinnovation and economic development [1]. The Three C’s model of following one's Curiosity, makingconnections between concepts, and Creating value can not only be taught, they form a set of habits thatpair with self-directed learning to nudge engineers to more creative and innovative solutions. Theexpectation is that more creative and innovative solutions will result in
Engineering, University of Arizona, Arizona, USAAbstractPrograms and resources aimed at fostering innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset are now commonacross many institutions of higher education. However, industrial engineering students often engageminimally with available innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) opportunities at our institution. Thisproject sought to address this challenge at a large public land-grant institution, aiming to increase studentengagement with these resources. Recognizing that engineering students tend to prioritize activities thatearn course credit, the project focused on bridging the gap between entrepreneurship and engineering. Theprimary objective of the project was to redesign a required third-year industrial
Fulbright Specialist, receiving an FSE Top 5% Teaching Award, receiving an ASEE Educational Research and Methods Division Apprentice Faculty Award, receiving a Frontiers in Education New Faculty Award, and being named an ASEE Fellow. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 WIP: Teaching practices assessment tools as the foundation for identifying entrepreneurial education best practicesAbstract Given the central role of engineering in national economic development, it is expectedthat the next generation of engineers must be prepared to work in a global context by couplingtheir traditional engineering skillset with an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) which is a collectionof
engagein a more enterprising, innovative and flexible manner in the changing workplace environmentfrom today” [8]. When centered in engineering curriculum, entrepreneurship allows for studentsto engage with skills such as empathy, collaboration, and creativity [9], [10], [11]. The KernEntrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) is a partnership of more than 55 colleges anduniversities across the United States that work to support engineering educators with tools,assessments, and resources in developing engineering student's entrepreneurial mindset [12].More specifically, “The Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) is a set of attitudes, dispositions, habits,and behaviors that shape a unique approach to problem solving, innovation and value creation,”[13
pedagogical strategies employed. In Chile,universities have implemented innovation and entrepreneurship programs that incorporateactive methodologies such as project-based learning and the creation of startups as part oftheir courses. These strategies not only foster the development of entrepreneurialcompetencies but also strengthen students' ability to adapt to changes in the global market.In recent years, engineering education has evolved to incorporate competencies beyondtraditional technical skills, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among future engineers. Oneof the most influential frameworks in this field is Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML),developed by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), which aims totransform
strives to contribute to the broader understanding of how to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and drive innovation in academic settings.Dr. Nathalie Duval-Couetil, Purdue University at West Lafayette (COE) Nathalie Duval-Couetil is the Director of University Entrepreneurship Education Initiatives and a Professor in the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation at Purdue University. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Exploring Entrepreneurial Learning Goals of Academic Entrepreneurs through Machine Learning and Natural Language ProcessingAbstractThis study explores the entrepreneurial learning goals of graduate students and faculty
entrepreneurial mindset in undergraduates, students must encounterand learn to navigate obstacles at all levels of learning. Implementing MBL can provide a crucial first-step toward developing failure tolerance.The MBL framework employed by the authors [5, 6] requires students to demonstrate mastery offundamental skills to pass a course. Mastery is demonstrated by completing test questions with near-perfect solutions. Final grades are then based on the number and complexity of skills mastered duringthe semester. Unlike traditional grading systems, MBL does not award partial credit; assessments areevaluated as either Passed or Not Yet. However, students can retake assessments as needed until thecourse ends, allowing each failure to become a learning
) - at University of the Pacific. University of the Pacific is a medium-size, private, student-centered university with three campuses in California. We are a minorityserving institution (MSI) with Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-ServingInstitution (AANAPISI) and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designations. The goal of thisnew program is for students to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset by integrating diverse ideasand concepts across disciplines to generate innovative solutions to complex problems. Studentswill engage in user-centered design thinking, storytelling to communicate the value of theirideas, and collaborative teamwork to develop high-quality prototypes through iterative processes.They will also gain
Paper ID #47728WIP: Opening Doors for All: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable EngineeringEducation Model Inspired by the ASEE Mindset ReportHiba Assi, University of Detroit MercyDr. E. Prasad Venugopal, University of Detroit Mercy Dr. E. Prasad Venugopal is a Professor of Physics and Affiliate Faculty, African American Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy. His research interests include physics education research and science and technology studies.Dr. Shuvra Das, University of Detroit Mercy Dr. Shuvra Das started working at University of Detroit Mercy in January 1994 and is currently Professor of Mechanical
Heat Transfer Course AbstractThe Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML) Framework involves the 3 C's: curiosity,connections, and creating value. Several design courses, open-ended assignments, and laboratoryexperiences can successfully lead to EML implementations. However, these implementationsrequire extensive class time and instructor feedback, limiting their use in core engineering courses.Developing EML activities that are active, engaging, and rapid to deploy in a classroom settingcan promote the sustained growth of an entrepreneurial mindset (EM).EML micromoment activities are emerging as a practical tool to facilitate the incorporation of the3 Cs through rapid activity implementations that
entrepreneurial thinking within engineering education throughpatterner institutions [1] . Developing this mindset implies not only technical expertise but alsothe ability for engineering students to identify as entrepreneurs[2]. Identity then becomes a usefullens for understanding individuals’ academic and career motivation [3]; [4]. However, integrationand compartmentalization of these identities can be challenging, as engineering andentrepreneurial skill sets often do not coexist easily within the same individual, leading to atension in identity formation[5]. Though, this integration of engineering innovations withsustainable entrepreneurship principles presents an area requiring further exploration [6] there isa notable absence of entrepreneurship
learning, diversity, ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025Engaging your Industrial Advisory Board to promote Industrial Connections for Student EngagementAbstract: The Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Rowan University hassuccessfully engaged its Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to actively involve undergraduatestudents to build an Entrepreneurial Mindset with the goal of stimulating student curiosity,assistance in making connections that ultimately create value. This multi-institutional effort issupported by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN). The intent is to helpadvisory boards move from a traditional advisory role to an active partnership in
providestudents with the interdisciplinary knowledge, practical skills, and entrepreneurial mindset required toexcel in today’s workforce. To bridge this gap, the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) model has emergedas a transformative approach, fostering collaboration among undergraduate and graduate students andfaculty to solve complex, long-term, and large-scale challenges. The VIP model was initially introduced byPurdue University [1] and later expanded by Georgia Tech Institute of Technology to address gaps ininterdisciplinary education and research [2]. Since then, the model has been adopted globally, withvariations tailored to institutional goals and cultural contexts. VIP programs emphasize collaborativelearning, long-term project engagement
, (3) Design and implement their new curriculum within an engineering class with at least four students, (4) Upload their newly developed curriculum and implementation notes as a card on EngineeringUnleashed.com, (5) Upload a minimum of four un-identified student metacognitive reflection submissions to the learning management system, (6) disseminate findings with a SoTL manuscript, and (7) complete evaluations.Requirements for the SoTL manuscript were as follows: (1) fill in the manuscript template usingthe headings provided, (2) write a paper that includes a minimum of 4000 words and a minimumof 20 citations, and (3) include the phrase “entrepreneurial mindset” in the title, abstract,introduction, and
Engineering Education, 2025 Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): S-STEM Program Third Year ProgressThe NSF S-STEM-funded program titled Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship(FLiTE) hosted by Western Carolina University has now completed its third year of operation.The program continues its mission to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset and growth-orientedthinking among a cohort of engineering and technology students with the goal of creatinggraduates who become growth-oriented professionals and entrepreneurs. With the onboarding ofits second-year recruiting class, the program has begun to observe the productive interactions ofits vertically integrated cohort. Program activities for the
. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Making space for curiosity, connection, and creating value by integrating real-world examples into engineering educationAbstractTeaching methods that emphasize theory without including practical applications can maketransitioning to industry challenging for students and employers. Research and designengineering has moved to smaller, entrepreneurial companies where engineers may take onbusiness roles, and the transition to such roles is enabled by developing an entrepreneurialmindset. The entrepreneurial mindset is a framework, focusing on the social and societalcomponents of entrepreneurship, to stimulate curiosity, build connections, and create value (3Cs)for students. We
. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 WIP: Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Instruments to Measure Connections and Creating Value in First-Year Engineering StudentsIntroductionTo effectively tackle global challenges and meet industry demands, it is crucial for today'sengineering graduates to possess both technical expertise and professional skill competencies [1]- [5]. In response to this need, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) hasidentified the 3Cs (Curiosity, Connections and Creating Value) for supporting the developmentof an Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) in engineering [6] - [8]. Cultivating an EM, and associatedbehaviors, with first-year engineering students is one positive step towards fostering
Paper ID #46407BOARD # 189: WIP: Using the Statics Concept Inventory to Assess Hands-OnLearning in StaticsDr. Danahe Marmolejo, Saint Louis University Dr. Danahe Marmolejo, an Assistant Professor in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University’s School of Science and Engineering since 2022, specializes in Thermodynamics and Process Systems Engineering. With a background in Chemical Engineering, she teaches engineering courses, primarily for first—and second-year students. Her current research focuses on improving engineering education and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in learning
, Wichita State University Gary is the Chair of the Applied Engineering at Wichita State University. His role is to guide and develop the applied, experiential learning focus of the program, as well as foster an entrepreneurial mindset in the students. He serves as a liaison bAndrea Matthews, Wichita State University ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 WIP: A Multi-tiered Strategy to Increase Freshman RetentionIntroductionThis work-in-progress paper focuses on a redesigned first-year experience (FYE) program atWichita State University, aimed at increasing student success and retention. While the retentionof undergraduate engineering students is essential for addressing the global
‘through’ entrepreneurship explores experiences that involve application of knowledge and skills that may take place via clubs and organizations, internships, projects, etc. ● Increasingly, teaching ‘in’ entrepreneurship highlights opportunities to embed entrepreneurial principles and concepts into other disciplines or subjects such as incorporating entrepreneurial scenario-based learning in an introductory solid mechanics course [7]. Teaching “in” entrepreneurship also highlights the learning that comes from peers in a facilitated community of practice.Learning skills and mindsets ‘for’ entrepreneurship moves beyond research and traditionalbusiness and management-related content to encompass durable skills [8] as problem
) discuss this method, b) provide an analysis of the impacts of theprojects undertaken through its use, and c) provide case study examples of the conversionprocess from advisement to partnership within the engineering programs at select institutions.The Project Unlock Method™, coupled with the KEEN Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM)framework, provides a pathway for engineering programs to leverage the expertise and insight ofindustry in their programs and curriculum. By shifting IABs from reactionary advisory roles toactive partnership roles, the approach demonstrates how academic-industry interactions canbecome more adaptive and impactful. This paper also shares current efforts from a ProjectUnlock ™ training involving over 15 institutions that have now
Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Water, M&M, and Economic ThinkingAbstractThis paper presents a learning module called “Water and M&M,” which aims topromote economic literacy and entrepreneurial mindset in engineering education.The activity uses a one-minute video sketch depicting an unusual transactionbetween two people. In the activity, students first review and explain selectedbasic principles of economics before analyzing the transaction throughscaffolding. Working in small groups, they discuss efficiency and fairness,identify real-life examples of similar transactions, look for value-creationopportunities, and consider the role of governments in the market economy. Themodule is designed to introduce economics
solutions, but these skillsare just as important for entrepreneurs to make strategic decisions for an organization. Engineersand entrepreneurs seek out opportunities, secure and employ resources, and provide leadership tocreate something of value. Engineers may lack entrepreneurship development and exposure dueto curricula focused on technical content, but these very skills and mindset can be developed. Aculture of coachability is a key factor in creating successful, fundable ventures. The Center forMedical Innovation’s Innovation Fellows (IF) Program has developed a distinctive mentoringstrategy to nurture innovation and engineering entrepreneurial mindsets in early-career engineersand scientists. This year-long program enhances expertise in
Development (EUFD) workshops to engineeringfaculty to support the development of entrepreneurial mindset in the faculty participants and theirstudents. EUFD workshops consist of 3 days of in-person engagement followed by a year ofcoaching and are focused on developing connections between participants andfacilitators/coaches and among participants themselves. In this project, we use a survey of EUFDparticipants to understand the role of connection in their workshop experience. Our researchquestions are: 1) How many others did participants have meaningful interactions with during theworkshops? And 2) What differences in number of meaningful interactions were there betweendifferent workshops?In our survey, participants selected who among their
and motivations of student entrepreneurs, as well as their engagement and success. Dr. Wang employs advanced quantitative methods and mixed-methods approaches to analyze large-scale national survey data. Her work strives to contribute to the broader understanding of how to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and drive innovation in academic settings. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Potential Conflicts of Interest in Academic Entrepreneurship AbstractMany universities encourage academic researchers to participate in technologycommercialization and entrepreneurship to demonstrate economic and societal returns frominvestments in research
scoping review of the literature on undergraduate engineering studentperceptions, attitudes, and emotions on failure.How students perceive and respond to failure can have a significant impact on their growth anddevelopment [1], [2]. This relationship is complex and can draw upon many factors includingmindset [3]-[5] (e.g., Dweck’s implicit theories of intelligence beliefs), motivation and self-regulation [6], [7] (e.g., measured through the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire,MSLQ), and emotions [8], [9] (e.g., examined with the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire,AEQ). First, students with a growth mindset can see failure as a learning opportunity whereasthose with a fixed mindset may be more inclined to see a failure in terms of
sustainability andinnovation.4.1. Generative Design • By leveraging AI-driven optimization tools in generative design, learners are introduced to resource-efficient strategies that minimize material waste and energy consumption, promoting sustainable engineering practices [19]. • This module empowers students to adopt a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial mindset by exploring innovative design approaches that challenge conventional manufacturing paradigms [20]. • It demonstrates how computational tools can transform the product development process, encouraging the creation of environmentally conscious solutions tailored to market needs.4.2. Green Manufacturing (Bottle-to-Filament Conversion) • This module
the development of an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) amongengineering students, emphasizing creativity, connection, and creating value in real-worldcontexts. Students are encouraged to approach challenges with a mindset that values not onlytechnical expertise but also social impact, resilience, and adaptability—key concepts that alignwell with the principles of design justice. By infusing and intertwining both design justiceprinciples and the entrepreneurial mindset into our capstone coursework, we aim to empowerstudents to design solutions that are not only technically sound but also entrepreneurial, ethicallyresponsible, and inclusive, ensuring their work serves the broader community.Project course sequenceThe engineering program includes a
entrepreneurship,”Entrepreneurship Education andPedagogy, 1(1), 8–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515127417737286[3] Huang-Saad, A., Bodnar, C., & Carberry, A. (2020). “Examining current practice in engineering entrepreneurship education,”EntrepreneurshipEducation and Pedagogy, 3(1), 4–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515127419890828[4] D. R. Riley, H. M. Shuster, C. A. LeMasney, C. E. Silvestri, and K. E. Mallouk, “First-Year Engineering Students’ Conceptualization of Entrepreneurial Mindset,” Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, pp. 87-91,Jul. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/25151274211029207.[5
Paper ID #47811Novel Mechatronics as a Multidisciplinary Introduction to Engineering FundamentalsLeendert Schrader, Saint Louis UniversityDr. Danahe Marmolejo, Saint Louis University Dr. Danahe Marmolejo, an Assistant Professor in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University’s School of Science and Engineering since 2022, specializes in Thermodynamics and Process Systems Engineering. With a background in Chemical Engineering, she teaches engineering courses, primarily for first—and second-year students. Her current research focuses on improving engineering education and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in