IUSE/PFE:RED A&I: Project-Driven Learning for the Next Generation of Bioengineers

生物工程是一个动态的跨学科领域，它位于工程学、物理科学、生命科学和医学的交叉点上。在过去的二十年里，它已经成为发展最快的工程学科之一，包括工业、研究机构和医疗保健在内的各个部门对生物工程师的需求不断上升。为了满足这些不断变化的需求，并培养一种创新、包容和跨学科合作的文化，工程教育需要一种革命性的方法。拟议的革命化工程系(RED)适应与实施(A&A；I)项目旨在将基于证据的组织变革战略整合到生物工程系，以系统地改革本科课程。这一转变将围绕基于项目的学习、解决现实世界的问题、行业和临床合作伙伴关系以及促进教育公平、多样性和包容性(EDI)展开。通过这样做，加州大学洛杉矶分校生物工程系寻求创造一个以学习者为中心的环境，促进创新，改善学生、教师和研究人员的学习体验，并使本科教育与行业和研究需求保持一致。该项目将集中于三个主要目标。首先，真实世界项目和综合技能培训的整合将贯穿于整个课程。这将使学生能够通过基于项目的学习来培养关键能力，如技术熟练程度、实践经验、设计能力、解决问题的技能、团队合作、沟通技能和组织管理。其次，该项目将通过与大学、医疗中心和行业的合作伙伴关系，建设必要的基础设施和文化，以促进教育项目的转型。这将包括创建行业曝光率、实践设计体验、同行协作、开放式问题解决和沟通技能发展的途径。最后，该项目将致力于在加州大学洛杉矶分校及其他地方为生物工程培训和教育创建一个包容性社区，重点是在课程和教育实践的所有方面促进电子数据交换。该项目的成果将对生物工程本科教育产生广泛的影响。它将使下一代生物工程师具备在行业劳动力中蓬勃发展并应对现实世界挑战所需的技能、知识和心态。此外，它还将促进工程教育中的电子数据交换，缩小学生群体在成绩和留住学生方面的差距，并创造一个更具包容性和多样化的学习环境。最终，这种创新的教育方法将造福于医疗保健系统和整个社会，培养出准备充分的生物工程师，以满足该领域不断变化的需求，并为社会做出有意义的贡献。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Bioengineering is a dynamic and interdisciplinary field that lies at the intersection of engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, and medicine. Over the past two decades, it has emerged as one of the fastest-growing engineering disciplines, with a rising demand for bioengineers in various sectors, including industry, research institutions, and healthcare. To meet these evolving needs and foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration, a revolutionary approach to engineering education is required. The proposed Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) Adaptation and Implementation (A&I) project aims to integrate evidence-based organizational change strategies into the Bioengineering department to systematically transform the undergraduate curriculum. This transformation will be centered around project-based learning, real-world problem-solving, industry and clinical partnerships, and promotion of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in education. By doing so, the Bioengineering department at UCLA seeks to create a learner-centered environment that fosters innovation, improves the learning experience for students, instructors, and researchers, and aligns undergraduate education with industry and research demands.The project will focus on three main objectives. Firstly, the integration of real-world projects and comprehensive skill training will be incorporated consistently throughout the curriculum. This will enable students to develop critical competencies such as technology proficiency, hands-on experience, design capability, problem-solving skills, teamwork, communication skills, and organizational management through project-based learning. Secondly, the project will build the necessary infrastructure and culture through partnerships with the university, medical center, and industry to facilitate the transformation of the education program. This will involve creating avenues for industry exposure, hands-on design experience, peer collaboration, open-ended problem-solving, and communication skills development. Lastly, the project will work towards creating an inclusive community for bioengineering training and education at UCLA and beyond, with a focus on promoting EDI in all aspects of the curriculum and educational practices. The outcomes of this project will have broad impacts on Bioengineering undergraduate education. It will equip the next generation of bioengineers with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to thrive in the industry workforce and address real-world challenges. Furthermore, it will promote EDI in engineering education, reducing gaps in performance and retention among student groups, and creating a more inclusive and diverse learning environment. Ultimately, this innovative approach to education will benefit the healthcare system and society as a whole, by producing bioengineers who are well-prepared to tackle the evolving needs of the field and make meaningful contributions to society.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.