T3-F: Industry Partnerships Provide Students with Irreplaceable Opportunities at Middle Tennessee State University
Location
Coastal
Start Date
5-3-2018 3:45 PM
Description
Dr. Saeed Foroudastan created the Experimental Vehicles Program (EVP) at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 2004. The EVP provides students with a chance to get hands on experience outside of the classroom. It started with three different project options and has since disposed of and added some projects to now include the human-powered lunar rover (formerly known as The Great Moonbuggy Race), powered off-road Baja, a gasoline-powered formula car, and an all-electric solar boat.
The EVP at MTSU has been greatly enhanced with the help of industry partnerships. A team of students is put together for each project in the EVP. The students are responsible for coming up with the ideas and plans for their product and for building and improving that product. Different industry partners provide help both financially and by advising the students throughout the project. The benefits the industry partners provide are invaluable. Students are able to not only to increase their knowledge on the subject but develop other skills such as teamwork, project management, effective communication, and are able to apply what they are learning in the classroom to a real life project.
Overall, the EVP at MTSU is a win-win situation for students and industry providing both sides with great benefits. What students learn in the classroom is no longer enough to make them qualified job candidates. The students’ innovative ideas to design and build the projects for the EVP provide them with work-like experience and provide industries with highly skilled, jobready candidates to hire.
T3-F: Industry Partnerships Provide Students with Irreplaceable Opportunities at Middle Tennessee State University
Coastal
Dr. Saeed Foroudastan created the Experimental Vehicles Program (EVP) at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 2004. The EVP provides students with a chance to get hands on experience outside of the classroom. It started with three different project options and has since disposed of and added some projects to now include the human-powered lunar rover (formerly known as The Great Moonbuggy Race), powered off-road Baja, a gasoline-powered formula car, and an all-electric solar boat.
The EVP at MTSU has been greatly enhanced with the help of industry partnerships. A team of students is put together for each project in the EVP. The students are responsible for coming up with the ideas and plans for their product and for building and improving that product. Different industry partners provide help both financially and by advising the students throughout the project. The benefits the industry partners provide are invaluable. Students are able to not only to increase their knowledge on the subject but develop other skills such as teamwork, project management, effective communication, and are able to apply what they are learning in the classroom to a real life project.
Overall, the EVP at MTSU is a win-win situation for students and industry providing both sides with great benefits. What students learn in the classroom is no longer enough to make them qualified job candidates. The students’ innovative ideas to design and build the projects for the EVP provide them with work-like experience and provide industries with highly skilled, jobready candidates to hire.