Implementing an Entrepreneurial Mindset Project in an Introductory Engineering Technology Course

In order to provide students with a better understanding of modern industry problems and entrepreneurial opportunities, students can be presented with design problems that both are incomplete in formulation and provide multiple methods to arrive at solutions.In an introductory automotive engineering technology course, students were presented with an openended vehicle design problem, which built off of course materials presented throughout the semester.Student design groups went through the development of their vehicle, with various additional constraints added along the project, with students having the incorporate feedback into their designs.As part of the project, students were asked to complete a survey to discuss their development throughout the project, finding that 85.7% of students agreed with the statement "This project helped me understand if I want to pursue a career in the automotive industry", and all respondents stating that the project achieved their desired learning outcomes.