Creativity and Innovation in Engineering: A Brief Review and Roadmap for the Future

Sayyad Zahid Qamar; Tasneem Pervez; Nasra Al-Maskari; Sayyad Basim Qamar

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Conference: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publication Date: June 22, 2025
Start Date: June 22, 2025
End Date: August 15, 2025
Conference Session: Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering Division (TELPhE) Technical Session 4
Tagged Division: Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering Division (TELPhE)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 10
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/56174

Paper Authors

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Sayyad Zahid Qamar Sultan Qaboos University orcid.org/0000-0001-8276-2671

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Prof Dr Sayyad Zahid Qamar is affiliated with the Mechanical Engineering Department, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Muscat, Oman. He has over 35 years of academic, research, and industrial experience. His research areas are Applied materials and manufacturing; Applied mechanics and design; Reliability engineering; and Engineering education. He has worked on funded projects in excess of 4 million USD. He has over 230 publications (books, book chapters, papers in international journals and conferences, and technical reports). Recently, he has edited a book on Quality Assurance and Control by Intech Open, and the volume on Thermal Engineering of Steel Alloy Systems in the multi-volume series Comprehensive Materials Processing, 2nd edition by Elsevier. He serves on the editorial boards of several top-ranked research journals.

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Tasneem Pervez

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Nasra Al-Maskari Sultan Qaboos University

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Nasra Al-Maskari is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in Texas, USA. Nasra earned her Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Design from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and she obtained her Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics Engineering from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Muscat, Oman.
With a specialization in Mechanical Engineering Design, Nasra's research interests encompass product design, bioinspired design, biomimetic materials, and design optimization. She is particularly focused on the design of turbodrills for the oil and gas industry, integrating innovative approaches to enhance performance and efficiency.
Nasra is also deeply interested in sustainability, striving to incorporate sustainable practices into her research and design methodologies. Her commitment to advancing engineering practices is reflected in her efforts to promote environmentally friendly solutions within the field.

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Sayyad Basim Qamar Texas A&M University orcid.org/0000-0001-5926-2310

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Abstract

Creativity in engineering education is crucial for developing innovative solutions in design and manufacturing, addressing both current and future trends. As technology evolves, engineers must create products that meet complex demands such as sustainability, efficiency, and adaptability. Integrating creativity into engineering fosters novel approaches to design, enabling engineers to stay ahead in competitive industries. With rapid advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing, engineers trained to think creatively will be better equipped to shape future products and processes. By encouraging creative problem-solving, engineering education ensures that professionals can address challenges in both conventional and emerging fields.

Traditionally perceived as a discipline focused on technical rigor, engineering today must integrate creativity to address issues such as infrastructure maintenance, environmental sustainability, and resource management. This paper explores the importance of creativity and innovation in engineering, addressing the misconception that engineers are not inherently creative. By drawing parallels between the engineering design process and creative thought, it is argued that creativity is fundamental to solving complex modern problems. The paper highlights the work of E. Paul Torrance, a pioneer in creativity research, whose theories underscore that creativity can be taught and cultivated in students. Compatible educational frameworks are then reviewed briefly. Drawing upon their experience of teaching courses such as Creative Design and Capstone Design, the authors present strategies to foster creativity within engineering curricula. These include collaborative reasoning, project-based learning, and the use of creative thinking tools like brainstorming and ideation notebooks. Many engineering schools have already adopted this approach; others need to embrace this mindset shift to prepare students for the real-world challenges they will face in a resource-constrained world, and to ensure that future engineers are not only technically proficient but also innovative thinkers.

Keywords: Creativity and innovation; Engineering education; Creative problem-solving; Design thinking; Project-based learning; Collaborative innovation; Engineering in the future

Selected References • Felder RM (1988) “Creativity in engineering education,” Chemical Engineering Education 22 (3), 1988, p 120-125. • Pusca D, Northwood DO (2018) “Curiosity, creativity and engineering education,” Global Journal of Engineering Education, 20 (3), 2018, p 152-158. • Orhun E, Orhun D (2013) “Creativity and engineering education,” Proceedings of 41st SEFI Conference, 2013, p 16-20. • Cropley DH (2016) Creativity in engineering, Springer Singapore, 2016. • Stouffer WB, Russell JS, Oliva MG (2004) “Making the strange familiar: Creativity and the future of engineering education,” Proceedings of the 2004 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, vol 9, p 1-9, American Society for Engineering Education.

Citation
Format

Qamar, S. Z., & Pervez, T., & Al-Maskari, N., & Qamar, S. B. (2025, June), Creativity and Innovation in Engineering: A Brief Review and Roadmap for the Future Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/56174

TY - CPAPER
AB - Creativity in engineering education is crucial for developing innovative solutions in design and manufacturing, addressing both current and future trends. As technology evolves, engineers must create products that meet complex demands such as sustainability, efficiency, and adaptability. Integrating creativity into engineering fosters novel approaches to design, enabling engineers to stay ahead in competitive industries. With rapid advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing, engineers trained to think creatively will be better equipped to shape future products and processes. By encouraging creative problem-solving, engineering education ensures that professionals can address challenges in both conventional and emerging fields.

Traditionally perceived as a discipline focused on technical rigor, engineering today must integrate creativity to address issues such as infrastructure maintenance, environmental sustainability, and resource management. This paper explores the importance of creativity and innovation in engineering, addressing the misconception that engineers are not inherently creative. By drawing parallels between the engineering design process and creative thought, it is argued that creativity is fundamental to solving complex modern problems. The paper highlights the work of E. Paul Torrance, a pioneer in creativity research, whose theories underscore that creativity can be taught and cultivated in students. Compatible educational frameworks are then reviewed briefly. Drawing upon their experience of teaching courses such as Creative Design and Capstone Design, the authors present strategies to foster creativity within engineering curricula. These include collaborative reasoning, project-based learning, and the use of creative thinking tools like brainstorming and ideation notebooks. Many engineering schools have already adopted this approach; others need to embrace this mindset shift to prepare students for the real-world challenges they will face in a resource-constrained world, and to ensure that future engineers are not only technically proficient but also innovative thinkers.

Keywords: Creativity and innovation; Engineering education; Creative problem-solving; Design thinking; Project-based learning; Collaborative innovation; Engineering in the future

Selected References
• Felder RM (1988) “Creativity in engineering education,” Chemical Engineering Education 22 (3), 1988, p 120-125.
• Pusca D, Northwood DO (2018) “Curiosity, creativity and engineering education,” Global Journal of Engineering Education, 20 (3), 2018, p 152-158.
• Orhun E, Orhun D (2013) “Creativity and engineering education,” Proceedings of 41st SEFI Conference, 2013, p 16-20.
• Cropley DH (2016) Creativity in engineering, Springer Singapore, 2016.
• Stouffer WB, Russell JS, Oliva MG (2004) “Making the strange familiar: Creativity and the future of engineering education,” Proceedings of the 2004 ASEE Annual Conference &amp;amp; Exposition, vol 9, p 1-9, American Society for Engineering Education.

AU - Sayyad Zahid Qamar
AU - Tasneem Pervez
AU - Nasra Al-Maskari
AU - Sayyad Basim Qamar
CY - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DA - 2025/06/22
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Creativity and Innovation in Engineering: A Brief Review and Roadmap for the Future
UR - https://peer.asee.org/56174
ER -