Still, it is clear that there is more work to be done. In many other disciplines, serious project management/design courses are not mandatory until senior year. Further, freshman students are NEVER formally exposed to the opportunities of product development for engineers. The best opportunities for undergrads to get involved in projects are in extracurricular clubs. DesignHub, Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW), and Engineers Without Borders (EWB) are three of the strongest organizations on campus for completing actual projects with significant impact in local and global communities.
We seek to expand upon and merge into a community, the values and practices of these groups. Two gaps we seek to bridge as UI Fellows are as follows:
#Inspire and Forge Project Teams (applied/realized value)
#*Connect product ideas that have market value with teams capable of producing them. Provide access to funding and guidance for these teams.
#Provide an incubator space (applied/realized value)
#*Allow such teams to function effectively and provide the necessary inspiration/motivation to get undergraduates interested in I&E.
#Increase awareness of I&E on campus
#*TEDx Event
#*Creativity Wall
#*1000 Pitches
#*Club of Clubs
#Change Curriculum
#*First Year Classes
#*Provide an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship class
#*Give credit to entrepreneurs
#Build an Entreneurship Community at Pitt Business and Connect the Different Departments
#*Connect student organizations across departments in Entrepreneurship through Suitable
#*Hold site visits and lectures series for business students interested in entreperneurship
#*Run and operate one hackathon per semester at Pitt Business
#*Organize 3 projects to compete at the Enactus National and Regional Competitions
= Strategy #1: Inspire and Forge Project Teams =