Education

Student-centred education

A framework of learning is designed around the learning needs of a student, with a strong sense of ownership and professional identity and vision. For example coaching on projects and on identity development, working with peers to foster reflection and choosing electives and projects to create a preferred learning pathway. Because the focus is on the student, self-directedness and competence development play a major role in the educational program. The student is in charge and has control and initiative over his or her personal development. Through personal, industrial and research projects, students develop a unique competence and design approach, which results in a diversity of graduated students.

Challenge-based learning

Next to self-directed learning and competence development, the educational model of Industrial Design is challenge-based. Challenge-based learning means that students work together on challenging and authentic projects in which multiple perspectives or disciplines are incorporated to solve the challenge (for example by working within interdisciplinary groups) using an entrepreneurial mindset. The Department of Industrial Design focuses on designing through five different perspectives (called Expertise Areas), addressed in core courses and electives:

  • math, data and computing
  • user and society
  • technology and realization
  • business and entrepreneurship
  • creativity and aesthetics

Within project groups called squads, students learn to make connections between the different perspectives, thereby coming to innovations within specific professional and societal contexts; the challenges. Within the squads, students work together with and gain formative feedback from scientific staff, experts from the field, companies and organizations.

Exchange program

Are you an Industrial Design student from one of our partner universities abroad, interested in joining TU/e's Industrial Design program for one semester? We warmly welcome you to our department! Industrial Design has agreements with many universities. Check the complete overview.

For more general information on exchange, scholars ships, Erasmus and services for exchange students, please visit the pages of TU/e’s international office