PAtENT: a student-centered entrepreneurial pathway to the engineering doctorate

Abstract

Current structures of STEM graduate programs raise questions about addressing graduates’ interest in multiple career paths, and how programs prepare graduates for positions increasingly available in varied occupations. This problem is addressed through an innovative doctoral program in engineering, Pathways to Entrepreneurship (PAtENT), which works to develop a scalable alternative student-centered framework. This research explores how this program responds to calls for graduate STEM education to address changes in science and engineering, the nature of the workforce, career goals, and how program components build an entrepreneurial mindset. A mixed-methods design includes a curriculum analysis showing alignment of program components to recommendations for Ph.D. STEM programs from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Direct measures include surveys and interviews developed for current doctoral students and faculty to describe students’ and faculty perspectives about program components, particularly entrepreneurship and the patent process. The curriculum analysis shows strong alignment of the PAtENT program components and activities to the ten elements of the National Academies’ recommendations. A survey of graduate students in engineering, computing, and business show strong measures in engineering and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Interviews of program participants and faculty demonstrate strong interest in patents and developing entrepreneurship. This innovative program in engineering focusing on obtaining a patent as a capstone shows potential to reform doctoral studies, so candidates are prepared not only for academic careers but a range of industry and government work environments. This work will lead to development of a model for other graduate STEM programs.

Keywords:

• Entrepreneurship
• curriculum
• doctoral programs

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Tofel-Grehl Colby, School of Teacher Education and Leadership, Logan, Utah State University, USA

SUBJECTS:

• Engineering Education
• Entrepreneurship
• Curriculum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The work reported in this paper was supported by the National Science Foundation [Award #1954978].

Notes on contributors

David K. Pugalee

Dr. David Pugalee is Professor of Education and Director of the Center for Mathematics, Science, & Technology Education.He has published research in Review of Educational Research, Educational Studies in Mathematics and School Science and Mathematics. His research interest includes strategies for effective STEM teaching and learning.

Audrey Rorrer

Audrey Rorrer is a Research Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at UNC Charlotte, where she also serves as Co-Director of the Center for Education Innovation Research. Her research foci include broadening participation in computing, undergraduate research initiatives, service learning in computing, and faculty development.

Praveen Ramaprabhu

Praveen Ramaprabhu is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science department at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Ramaprabhu leads the Computational Hypersonics and Multimaterial Physics research group. Dr. Ramaprabhu’s research interests include modeling and simulation of multimaterial mixing in turbulent flows, modeling propulsion technologies such as detonation engines, and simulations of hypersonic flows.

Mesbah Uddin

Mesbah Uddin is a Mechanical Engineering Professor at UNC Charlotte, leads the DDO initiative for enhancing defense collaborations, previously directed the North Carolina Motorsports Center, and served on the Governor’s Motorsports Council (2012-2017). He is active in SAE, AIAA, ASME, ASEE, and chairs the SAE Aerodynamics Committee.

Harish P. Cherukuri

Harish P. Cherukuri is the Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at UNC Charlotte. His research interests are in computational mechanics, modeling of material removal and metal-forming processes, high-temperature behavior of super-alloys, particle-based methods, and the application of machine learning in manufacturing and materials science.

Terry Xu

Terry Xu is the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at UNC Charlotte. Her research interests are in synthesis and characterization of one-dimensional nanomaterials, and their applications in energy conversion and biosensors.