Community-Driven Innovation Challenges: Partnering with Local Businesses and Industries for Engineering Student Growth
We're seeking community partners to engage with our mechanical engineering students on innovative projects.
As part of the ME-340 Design Methodology course at Penn State Scranton, students are engaging in a groundbreaking project titled "Community-Driven Innovation Challenges for Engineering Student Development." This initiative is proudly supported by the The Leonhard Center at Penn State.
Engineering Project Overview
The mechanical engineering project aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among engineering students by immersing them in hands-on, interdisciplinary problem-solving. Through direct collaboration with local communities and industries, students will identify real-world challenges and develop innovative, practical solutions.
Key Objectives
- Foster Curiosity: Encourage students to explore and question the world around them.
- Create Value: Develop solutions that provide tangible benefits to communities.
- Build Connections: Strengthen ties between students, industry partners, and local stakeholders.
Students will gain essential skills in:
- Prototyping and Iterative Design
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Effective Stakeholder Communication
Expected Outcomes
The project is designed to produce tangible, real-world solutions that directly address the needs of local communities. Through this process, students will develop a deeper understanding of how engineering can create meaningful social impact.
They will enhance their competencies in areas such as design thinking, communication, and teamwork—skills that are highly valued by both industry and community partners. By engaging in interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement, students will be better prepared to navigate complex challenges and contribute to innovation in their future careers.
How you can help:
We are inviting local companies, community organizations and civic leaders to collaborate with our mechanical engineering students to help tackle real-world problems.
We're seeking community partners to:
- Propose authentic design challenges relevant to their needs.
- Offer mentorship or feedback to student teams.
- Visit class to share insights on entrepreneurship, engineering or innovation.
Together, we can inspire the next generation of problem-solvers while making a positive impact on our community.
Contact us:
Interested organizations or individuals can reach out to Dr. Farhang Daneshmand at email: [email protected] or Jo Ann Durdan in the The Center For Business Development and Community Outreach at Penn State Scranton.
This initiative is proudly supported by the The Leonhard Center at Penn State.