Implementation and initial assessment of the design that matters program at MIT and other universities

Abstract

This paper describes how design that matters has worked with engineering capstone design courses at MIT, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of Cambridge, allowing successive student teams from different universities and engineering disciplines to collaborate on real-world projects for underserved communities in such areas as clean water, medical devices, renewable energy and access to education. We give a short list of projects students have worked on, and we point to some initial indicators of program effectiveness, including survey results and community implementations. We conclude with an overview of lessons learned.