The UPV Design Factory. What is it good for?

Abstract

Universities have the challenge and responsibility to society to train good professionals. Moreover, they must adapt to current demands. They must do so not only by improving the contents of the different degree programs but also by incorporating new programs and activities that help students develop soft skills, teamwork, connections between the university and real life, making them the best professionals and excellent citizens. To this end, in 2014, the UPV launched a program called Design Factory to channel and frame initiatives carried out by students to develop their prototypes and participate in student competitions. The program facilitates the creation of interdisciplinary learning communities in which students are committed to their goals, their teams, and the university. The program's spirit is to encourage learning in an eminently practical way. Students have to lead the projects, attract and select candidates, manage a budget, carry out their activities and try to achieve their goals, which involves many soft skills. For the program's operation, the university provides a team including management, technical and administrative staff, facilities, and economic endowment to the teams to carry out their activities. Funds are distributed in terms of the quality proposal, impact on the university, and results from the previous edition. More than 2,000 students participate in more than 60 engaged teams whose coordinators show high satisfaction with their roles in the current academic year.