WIP: Implementing Backward Design Approach in Integrated Business and Engineering Capstone Project: A NASA Tech Transfer Case Study

Mandana Ashouripashaki; Kristina Kennedy; Paul A. Reeder

Download Paper | Permalink

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: Graduate College Industry Partnerships
Tagged Division: College Industry Partnerships Division (CIP)
Page Count: 15
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--57421
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/57421
Download Count: 10

Paper Authors

biography

Mandana Ashouripashaki The Ohio State University

visit author page

Mandana Ashouripashaki is a PhD student in Engineering Education at The Ohio State University and also serves as the Associate Director of Licensing and Business Development at OSU's Innovation and Commercialization Office. Her responsibilities encompass strategic outreach, key account management, advancing deal quality and velocity, as well as overseeing entrepreneurial training and initiatives.
Before her tenure at Ohio State, she served as the Director of Licensing & Business Development (Physical Science & Engineering) at Colorado State University for four years. And prior to that she worked with The University of Texas at Austin in technology transfer and commercialization office as a licensing specialist.
She also has 14 years of experience in the oil and gas and energy industry.
Mandana holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from The University of Tehran and dual MSc degrees in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering and Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

visit author page

biography

Kristina Kennedy The Ohio State University

visit author page

Kristina Kennedy joined The Ohio State University in 2021 as an Associate Professor in the College of Engineering and Faculty Director for the Integrated Business & Engineering (IBE) Program – a multidisciplinary, cross-college program serving both business and engineering honors students. She teaches both the IBE First-Year Cornerstone and Senior Capstone courses and oversees program operations, fundraising, and industry partnerships. Kristina previously worked as an engineer with Honda R&D and holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa and an MBA from The Ohio State University.

visit author page

biography

Paul A. Reeder The Ohio State University

visit author page

Executive Director, Center for Innovation Strategies, The Ohio State University
Paul Reeder leads university-wide innovation initiatives, focusing on creating value through strategic collaboration. As Executive Director of the Center for Innovation Strategies, he supports innovation-based learning and entrepreneurship. Paul previously served as Director of Operations and Collaboration Strategy in the Office of Research, Industry Liaison Office.

visit author page

Download Paper | Permalink

Abstract

The 21st century presents engineering students with complex, interdisciplinary challenges that require a combination of technical and entrepreneurial skills. This case study examines the implementation of a backward design approach within a joint business and engineering program at a large Midwestern university. The program encourages students to first explore patented advanced technologies and then identify new real-world applications for these technologies. This initiative supports the integration of interdisciplinary learning to better prepare students for modern industry demands. The purpose of this study is to investigate how backward design fosters critical thinking, entrepreneurial abilities, and collaboration among engineering and business undergraduate students. Leveraging novel technologies from a global aerospace agency, students develop problem-solving skills applicable to 21st century engineering and business challenges. The four-semester program begins with a feasibility study phase, which includes a business alignment exploration component, prior to students' senior capstone projects. And it is supported by partnerships with a government technology transfer office, research institutions, and industry leaders. In the early phase, technologies are pre-vetted and aligned with trends in non-competitive industries. Using a structured technology push methodology, potential applications of the technology's attributes are explored. This work-in-progress case study highlights the potential of backward design as a pedagogical tool in engineering education. The backward design approach emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and public-private collaboration by tasking students with identifying problems that can be addressed using off-the-shelf technologies applied to non-competitive fields of use. Feedback from key stakeholders including industry, business, educational, and commercial mentors, technology providers, and student participants, will be used to assess the effectiveness of this approach. Reflections and insights gathered from these stakeholders will inform future iterations of the program with additional student teams. The preliminary findings from this study will also guide the development of future full-scale studies and curriculum improvements, with a focus on assessing the generalizability of the approach. Additionally, this study contributes to workforce development by equipping students with the interdisciplinary skills and problem-solving capabilities that align with the expectations of private and public sector partners supporting real-world problem solving through technology transfer.

Citation
Format

Ashouripashaki, M., & Kennedy, K., & Reeder, P. A. (2025, June), WIP: Implementing Backward Design Approach in Integrated Business and Engineering Capstone Project: A NASA Tech Transfer Case Study Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . 10.18260/1-2--57421

TY - CPAPER
AB - The 21st century presents engineering students with complex, interdisciplinary challenges that require a combination of technical and entrepreneurial skills. This case study examines the implementation of a backward design approach within a joint business and engineering program at a large Midwestern university. The program encourages students to first explore patented advanced technologies and then identify new real-world applications for these technologies. This initiative supports the integration of interdisciplinary learning to better prepare students for modern industry demands.
The purpose of this study is to investigate how backward design fosters critical thinking, entrepreneurial abilities, and collaboration among engineering and business undergraduate students. Leveraging novel technologies from a global aerospace agency, students develop problem-solving skills applicable to 21st century engineering and business challenges.
The four-semester program begins with a feasibility study phase, which includes a business alignment exploration component, prior to students&#39; senior capstone projects. And it is supported by partnerships with a government technology transfer office, research institutions, and industry leaders. In the early phase, technologies are pre-vetted and aligned with trends in non-competitive industries. Using a structured technology push methodology, potential applications of the technology&#39;s attributes are explored.
This work-in-progress case study highlights the potential of backward design as a pedagogical tool in engineering education. The backward design approach emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and public-private collaboration by tasking students with identifying problems that can be addressed using off-the-shelf technologies applied to non-competitive fields of use. Feedback from key stakeholders including industry, business, educational, and commercial mentors, technology providers, and student participants, will be used to assess the effectiveness of this approach. Reflections and insights gathered from these stakeholders will inform future iterations of the program with additional student teams. The preliminary findings from this study will also guide the development of future full-scale studies and curriculum improvements, with a focus on assessing the generalizability of the approach.
Additionally, this study contributes to workforce development by equipping students with the interdisciplinary skills and problem-solving capabilities that align with the expectations of private and public sector partners supporting real-world problem solving through technology transfer.

AU - Mandana Ashouripashaki
AU - Kristina Kennedy
AU - Paul A. Reeder
CY - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DA - 2025/06/22
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - WIP: Implementing Backward Design Approach in Integrated Business and Engineering Capstone Project: A NASA Tech Transfer Case Study
UR - https://peer.asee.org/57421
DO - 10.18260/1-2--57421
ER -