DEVELOPING INNOVATION SKILLS AND ASSESSING STUDENT LEARNING AT MUSE

This paper presents the innovation and entrepreneurship education activities of Mercer Engineering Entrepreneurship Education Program (MEEEP) developed and implemented through Kern Family Foundation grants in 2007. How Mercer University School of Engineering (MUSE) promotes entrepreneurial mindset and develop innovation-related skills among engineering students are presented in term of curriculum development, entrepreneurship club activities, recruiting and involving students and faculty, assessment of entrepreneurship courses, the challenges encountered in implementing/sustaining the program and the lessons learned. The course sequence developed and implemented integrates elements of entrepreneurship with engineering education and instills entrepreneurial mindset among engineering students; fosters innovation and creativity in engineering disciplines; helps the students to develop business plans for the entrepreneurial design projects and compete in the annual business plan competition, and promotes new ventures creation. The program outcome is measured based on the percentage of students impacted, faculty involvement, students' participation in conferences, patents applied, commercial products developed, companies formed, and the feedback from graduating students. The students learning outcomes and their professional competencies are assessed using KEEN-TTI assessment tools. The expansion of this program through the recently established Mercer Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MCIE) will support educational interdisciplinary curricula and co-curricular activities directly benefiting students and provide multi-and cross-disciplinary teaching, learning, and research opportunities on innovation and entrepreneurship to faculty and students.