The 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education is awarded to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) educators Diran Apelian, Arthur C. Heinricher, Richard F. Vaz, and Kristin K. Wobbe, “for a project-based engineering curriculum developing leadership, innovative problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global competencies.”

The project-based engineering curriculum at WPI prepares 21st century leaders to tackle global issues through interdisciplinary collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. The Institute’s engineering program engages students with a specially designed sequence in which first-year students complete projects on topics such as energy and water; second-year capstones focus on the humanities and arts; junior-year interdisciplinary projects relate technology to society; and senior design projects are done in conjunction with external sponsors, providing relevant experience upon graduation. Last year, WPI launched its Institute on Project-Based Learning, an initiative to help other colleges and universities make progress toward implementing project-based learning on their campuses.