BA 3100-Technology-Based Entrepreneurship: an integrated approach to engineering and business education

This paper presents the experience at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez with a new course entitled Technology-Based Entrepreneurship (TBE). This course was developed as part of the Manufacturing Engineering Education Partnership (MEEP) to address industry's need for developing professionals with the ability to communicate effectively, work in multidisciplinary teams, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and master decision-making skills. In order to respond to this need, this course was made to be challenging, creative and innovative, multidisciplinary in nature, practice based and made to encourage students to explore beyond their academic concentration. After four years, the course has yielded over 250 participating engineering and business students, more than 50 product concepts developed, and the active participation of more than 20 professors from several departments.