Infusing Entrepreneurial Mindset Into Engineering Education: Five Strategies for Implementation Success

Abstract

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering (FSE) received a two-year grant to institutionalize entrepreneurial mindset (EM) throughout the college. This paper summarizes the history of entrepreneurial education in engineering, then reviews metrics of initial implementation success across 17, ABET-accredited programs. Five strategies were deployed during the implementation stage of the initiative, which strived to engage 66 faculty who taught one of three EM-focus courses in each undergraduate program: a first-year engineering course, a required design or technical course in the second or third year, and Capstone. Strategies were: 1) Adopting a 21st Century Engineer orientation to entrepreneurial education; 2) Operationalizing EM using a single, consistent framework across all courses and programs; 3) Modeling implementation based on ABET accreditation processes; 4) Infusing the initiative with substantial faculty support; and 5) Incentivizing faculty with stipends to promote initial implementation. Challenges revolve around sustaining implementation while improving effectiveness of EM instruction and assessment, particularly after grant funding. Lessons learned are that 1) institutionalization of the initiative needs to be strategized during initial implementation and 2) faculty are more likely to support an initiative that includes activities and outcomes about which they have always cared, including student success, professional development, and collegial interaction.