Educational Opportunities
Practical experience is crucial in training engineers to tackle real problems with real-world constraints and parameters. At Penn State, students gain this experience by working closely with sponsoring companies to solve challenging problems working in multidisciplinary design teams using the College's extensive fabrication, testing, and rapid prototyping facilities.
Hands-on problem solving teaches students to apply technical knowledge and can prepare them for engineering careers by exposing them to the technical demands, potential pitfalls, and professional expectations of practicing engineers.
You can help students learn about the real world, by sponsoring a senior-year capstone design project.
Senior-Year Capstone Design Projects offer students the opportunity to get involved in sophisticated engineering design challenges. Participating companies reap benefits as well; building relationships with students and getting new ideas for real design problems. For more information about sponsoring a capstone design project, visit The Learning Factory website or contact Matthew Parkinson, Learning Factory Director at (814) 863-9079 or mbp11@psu.edu.