1 Foundation of the Innovation Principles and the Applied Innovation Curricula
There are three primary pillars to the foundation of the innovation curricula.
Pillar 1: Academic Excellence: Tier 1 University National Academic and Research Standards
Since 1934, the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering brings forward elite application of scientific and mathematical principles to design, develop, and build structures, machines, and systems. It involves learning and applying processes and tools to problem-solving, innovation development, opportunity realization, and the creation of solutions to meet human needs and improve the world.
Pillar 2: Experience: Real World Relevance
From local on-the-ground field insight to global Chief Officer intuition, the program delivers international industry proficiency and guest speakers with relevant experience and knowledge creating markets, launching inventions, and designing technology solutions from business to business to consumer products and services.
Pillar 3: Industry Proven: Innovation Engineering Institute
Founded in 1986, the Innovation Engineering™ program has trained and certified industry professionals in the skills of thinking to discover, design, develop, and deliver innovations around the world. In 2006, Eureka Ranch and the University of Maine, founded the Innovation Engineering Institute as the certifying body for professional courses for learning the disciplines of innovation.
All three pillars are united to expand beyond industry expectations to deliver advanced understanding and experience. All the assignments are focused on applying principles of innovation as a professional tradecraft of mental skills, techniques, and methods. All the exercises in the applied innovation course maintains the consistent framework of certification requirements. Therefore, all activity in the course retains the integrity of the professional Innovation Engineering™ Blue Belt certification blended with expanded disciplines from the Cullen College of Engineering. The focus is to empower students with elite aptitudes to champion careers of productivity and leadership of resources and governance of disruption.
Engineering Ingenuity is the Bedrock of Innovation Principles
Engineering Ingenuity is the clever and inventive application of structured thinking principles that construct innovation, solve problems, and detect new opportunities (4). It encompasses not only technical expertise but also the ability to pioneer outside the box thinking, adapt to constraints, and find novel approaches to design ideas. Engineering ingenuity is the driving force behind progress. It is more than just applying creativity; it is about thinking in structured processes using tools and systems to adapt to challenges while confronting the status quo to discover the unrecognized.
