2007: PRODUCT DESIGN FOR INDSUTRY: THE NUS EXPERIENCE

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has evolved a curriculum where design is integrated vertically in its undergraduate program. The goals and objectives of the design-centric curriculum are to expose students to the total design process early in their programs of study, and reinforce design problem solving skills at every stage. In this paper, the rationale for moving into a design-centric curriculum for the NUS’s ME Program will first be presented. Details of the Industry-sponsored Design Project Program will then be described, including the methodology of project solicitation, how to resolve related Intellectual Property issues with industry sponsors, the allocation of projects to students and the method of assessment adopted. The desired educational outcome for this Program will be presented. Some thoughts and experience on how this Program could be improved for subsequent batches of NUS ME students will also be shared.