PIEp EDU: Education for Product Innovation
Year: 2009
Editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author: Grimheden, Martin
Series: ICED
Section: Design Education and Lifelong Learning
Page(s): 149-160
Abstract
This paper presents results from the first two years of a large attempt at changing Swedish higher education - a system change toward synthesis, creativity, product innovation and entrepreneurship. The Product Innovation Engineering program is a ten-year governmentally funded research- and development program with an educational change program - PIEp Education. Activities are organized for three focus groups: students, doctoral students and teachers of higher education in Sweden. Activities for students include an annual thesis competition, summer schools, thesis projects and international mobility programs. A research school gathers around 25 PhD students and offers a national complement to existing university research education programs. A teachers' network gathers around 50 university teachers in Sweden to workshops in creativity, course development and exchange of experiences. Among the results presented in this paper are examples of new courses, programs and local activities showing how the Product Innovation Engineering-thinking have been embraced among the members of PIEp and are beginning to show results in terms of new products, companies and businesses.
Keywords: Product Innovation Engineering, Engineering Education, Research Education