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Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset by Bridging Design and Construction – Incorporating Three Cs in Civil Engineering Technology Courses

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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

ENT-4: Experiential Approaches to Developing Entrepreneurial Mindsets in Engineering

Tagged Division

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation Division (ENT)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

13

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/56253

Paper Authors

biography

Amanda Y Bao P.E. Rochester Institute of Technology Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0003-1530-8166

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Amanda Bao is a Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She got her Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA, in 2006. Dr. Bao started teaching at RIT in 2010 and she regularly teaches structural engineering courses. Prior to RIT, she worked as a bridge structural engineer at Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. and Michael Baker International, Inc. in Denver, and she is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado and New York, USA. Dr. Amanda Bao won the 2021 Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching at RIT. Dr. Bao has been actively involved in engineering education research since 2011, including digital learning, active learning and intensive collaboration with industry. Dr. Bao develops a teaching website: http://baoteachingcet.com/ and opens a YouTube Structural Design Teaching channel to post screencasts to supplement traditional lecture-type classes, and she also created hands-on active learning modules to improve teaching and learning effectiveness. In addition to education research, Dr. Bao conducts research in the areas of bridge resiliency and sustainability, innovative construction materials and evaluation of aging infrastructure. She has extensive research experience in finite element modeling and lab testing of structures and published more than 30 research papers. She is an active member in ASEE, ASCE and AISC.

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biography

Yewande S Abraham Rochester Institute of Technology Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0003-1517-1980

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Yewande Abraham Ph.D., LEED AP O+M, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She received her Bachelor's and Master's in Civil Engineering from Cardiff University, Wales.

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Abstract

The three Cs of an entrepreneurial mindset- curiosity, connections, and creating value- enable civil engineers to positively impact the built environment and create value for clients and key stakeholders to meet societal demands. This study focused on developing new course materials for two civil engineering technology technical elective courses, “Design of Highway Bridges” and “Construction Planning, Scheduling, and Control,” to incorporate the entrepreneurial mindset and reinforce the application of the three Cs in the civil engineering industry. The connection between different components of the design and construction phases was emphasized in both courses to promote students’ whole-system awareness. The updated course materials included recorded interviews with civil engineering design and construction professionals, case studies, lecture content, and targeted assignments. These materials were designed to emphasize the critical role of collaboration between design and construction professionals in developing optimal solutions. Student feedback on the learning outcomes related to the three Cs, the value of incorporating case studies in the curriculum, and the application of an entrepreneurial mindset in design and construction was gathered through a survey administered at the end of the semester. The results indicated that students were able to apply the entrepreneurial mindset through the new learning materials, improve their understanding of the connection between design and construction, and enhance their ability to communicate valuable design solutions to foster collaboration. This study provides valuable insights and facilitates further implementation of the entrepreneurial mindset in broader civil engineering and construction courses.

Bao, A. Y., & Abraham, Y. S. (2025, June), Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset by Bridging Design and Construction – Incorporating Three Cs in Civil Engineering Technology Courses Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/56253

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