Enhancing Undergraduate Engineering Design Education through Mini-Prototype Projects and an Entrepreneurial Mindset

This paper addresses the need to close the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications in undergraduate engineering design education to foster sustainable learning.To achieve this, the study incorporates a mini-prototype-based project inspired by textbook problems and an Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) to encourage curiosity and problem-solving abilities.The study takes place in mechanical engineering within the "Design of Machinery" course.In the study, students were engaged in projects that involve designing and prototyping mechanisms to be completed within a single classroom session or an hour.The paper introduces the methodology and showcases students' feedback regarding this engaging and impactful learning experience, enhancing both technical knowledge and student connection.