Lawrence Technological University

What value does a real-world project bring to students?

A real-world project helps students apply theory to practice, sharpen their career-ready skills, cultivate cross-disciplinary collaboration mindset, and build professional networks with professional engineers.

How do you decide which projects to work on?

The selected project covers various challenges in each subdiscipline of the civil engineering program, providing a comprehensive, real-world learning experience. We also prioritize projects that promote interdisciplinary collaboration, align with ABET educational outcomes, and offer meaningful community impacts.

How did this project prepare students for professional practice?

The selected project simulates real-world design processes. Successful execution of the project requires various skillsets obtained from their education, such as interdisciplinary teamwork, professional communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and technical presentation. Students applied classroom knowledge, managed constraints, and developed practical skills essential for careers in civil engineering.

What advice do you have for other programs wanting to add similar collaborative projects to their curriculum?

• Select community-based projects that address real-world needs and involve multiple subdisciplines.
• Engage faculty across specialties, set clear learning objectives, and incorporate industry input.
• Emphasize teamwork, communication, and professional standards to ensure students gain both technical and practical experience.

What did you like best about participating in this project?

I enjoyed experiencing the process of engineering a project from start to finish, as well as the collaborative efforts working with a team to see the different civil engineering disciplines integrated with each other.

What did you learn?

I learned about the importance of considering the scope of your project, how it can impact the community which it is in, and how to develop a project to benefit the society, environment, and cultural aspects of the community.

How did the participation of professional engineers improve the experience?

The participation of professional engineers allowed our team to get assistance and adapt our project in similar ways that would be done in the industry. Collaboration through this allowed our team to grow and connect the classroom experience with industry implementation.

What do you think the engineers learned from working with students on this project?

I think the engineers were able to see the benefits of collaboration with young engineers in the classroom, which will benefit them in the future when entering the industry.

Why did you get involved with the project?

I enjoy sharing a practicing engineer’s perspective on how to translate creative engineering concepts into viable, real-world solutions. I also really value working with students who are passionate about civil engineering, as it reminds me why I chose this profession and gives me an opportunity to help mentor the next generation of civil engineers.

How did you assist the students in the project?

I was able to provide critical feedback during presentations and small group sessions on the engineering challenges and potential practical, real-world solutions during the project.  Specifically, I enjoyed working with the geotechnical-focused student on the soil challenges within the site, pushing her to apply geotechnical engineering and construction principles to provide cost-effective solutions.

What did you learn from working with the students?

I learned that these students’ future employers will have the privilege of mentoring some very talented young engineers. I also saw firsthand how successfully delivering a complex engineering project requires commitment to one another an open, candid communication—something I can use as a model to strengthen collaboration within my own firm.

What did you want students to learn from working with you?

That the best engineering solution isn’t always the first idea or the most common approach. Engineering innovation often comes from initial setbacks or a trial-and-error process, which can ultimately lead to practical, cost-effective solutions that stand out.