Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber

Student Projects Benefit Businesses

Every time I walk across the Diag on the University of Michigan campus, I can’t help but be impressed by the students I meet. They represent a pool of talent that businesses can tap, even before they graduate.



More and more U-M students are working with local, national and global companies as a part of their class work to address challenging problems and to formulate creative solutions that ultimately drive innovation and productivity.



Student projects benefit both the companies and the students. Companies often adopt new products, approaches and solutions generated by the student teams while students receive professional mentoring and project experience from faculty advisors and practitioners in the field.



On April 15, 2010, the College of Engineering will present a wide range of student projects at its semi-annual Design Expo, held at the Duderstadt Center on the University of Michigan’s North Campus.  Many of the displays will focus on examples of local industry/academic partnerships. The Ann Arbor Hands-on-Museum, for example, commissioned a group of students to design a new exhibit showcasing integrated engineering. Another team of students will explain their cost-effective proposals to help a local restaurant reach its goal of becoming LEED certified.  In biomedical engineering realm, students will present a new neurosurgical device for use during surgery developed for Xoran Technologies, a local health care imaging company.



The examples above represent just a fraction of the student project opportunities around campus. The Ross School of Business, the School of Information, the School of Natural Resources and Environment, and the U-M Dearborn all offer opportunities to connect with project teams in a variety of disciplines.



The Business Engagement Center is a great starting point for companies looking to tap into university resources. If you are interested in learning more, visit our Web site, or give us a call at 734.647.1000.



In the meantime, I hope to see you on April 15.



Daryl Weinert, Executive Director of the Business Engagement Center, oversees the campus-wide strategy for corporate interactions at the University of Michigan.