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

生物工程是一个充满活力的跨学科领域，位于工程、物理科学、生命科学和医学的交叉点。在过去的二十年中，生物工程已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领域对生物工程师的需求不断增长。为了满足这些不断变化的需求，培养一种创新、包容和跨学科合作的文化，需要一种革命性的工程教育方法。拟议的革命性工程部门（RED）适应和实施（A&amp；I）项目旨在将循证组织变革策略整合到生物工程部门，以系统地转变本科课程。这一转变将围绕基于项目的学习、解决现实问题、行业和临床伙伴关系，以及促进教育中的公平、多样性和包容性（EDI）展开。通过这样做，加州大学洛杉矶分校的生物工程系试图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。该项目将侧重于三个主要目标。首先，将现实项目与综合技能训练相结合贯穿于整个课程。这将使学生通过基于项目的学习发展关键能力，如技术熟练程度、实践经验、设计能力、解决问题的能力、团队合作能力、沟通能力和组织管理能力。其次，该项目将通过与大学、医疗中心和工业合作，建立必要的基础设施和文化，以促进教育计划的转变。这将包括为行业曝光、实践设计经验、同行合作、开放式问题解决和沟通技巧的发展创造途径。最后，该项目将致力于为加州大学洛杉矶分校及其他地方的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各个方面推广EDI。本项目的研究成果将对生物工程本科教育产生广泛的影响。它将为下一代生物工程师提供在行业劳动力中茁壮成长所需的技能、知识和思维方式，并应对现实世界的挑战。此外，它将在工程教育中推广EDI，缩小学生群体之间的表现差距和留用率，并创造一个更加包容和多样化的学习环境。最终，这种创新的教育方法将使医疗保健系统和整个社会受益，通过培养生物工程师来应对该领域不断变化的需求，并为社会做出有意义的贡献。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.