EXPLORES: An integrated learning environment to produce industry ready graduates

To maintain competitive advantages in today´s global market, US companies are challenging higher education institutions to bridge competency gaps between industry workforce needs and what is provided by engineering education programs. To meet this challenge, the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Cincinnati proposes the EXPLORES (Experiential and Problem-based Learning within Opportunities for Real-world Engineering Settings) model where students from freshman year onwards are exposed to real-world industrial problems that have a direct bearing on fundamental engineering concepts. The EXPLORES model is implemented in a learner-centered, knowledge-centered, assessment-centered, and community-centered student learning environment. Although inclusion of real-world industrial problems into engineering curriculum is not a new invention, the EXPLORES model is unique in the following aspects: (1) the problems span multiple courses so students need to have the ability to synthesize knowledge acquired from different courses in order to develop complete solutions; (2) industry partners are an integral part of the education process by providing problem design, periodic feedback, and expert solution; and (3) an on-line virtual company framework is used to facilitate information sharing and motivate student learning.