2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Empowering Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Cutting-Edge Curriculum Through the VIP+ Program

Presented at Lightning Talk - "Innovating for Impact: Community-Engaged Education, Technology, and Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) model offers a transformative approach to higher education by bringing together undergraduate and graduate students with faculty in interdisciplinary teams to tackle complex, long-term and large-scale projects. At the Lebanese American University (LAU), this model has evolved into the VIP+ program, an innovative initiative aimed at cultivating entrepreneurial confidence and fostering innovation. By embedding entrepreneurial education within the curriculum, VIP+ empowers students to transform ideas into viable startups. The program integrates advanced startup labs and industry co-mentorship, providing real-world experience through internships and workshops, while enhancing leadership and problem-solving skills beyond the traditional classroom.
This paper presents a novel curriculum approach that promotes interdisciplinary, research-driven education aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, all within a Liberal Education framework. By working on shared research topics under the mentorship of both academic and industry professionals, students in the VIP+ program gain critical skills necessary for the modern workforce. The integration of VIP+ at LAU offers a distinctive educational experience that boosts student employability and enhances their entrepreneurial and innovation capabilities. Furthermore, this paper provides a preliminary evaluation of student learning outcomes from the pilot phase and offers recommendations for scaling the VIP+ model. Ultimately, the VIP+ program aims to prepare the next generation of leaders by equipping them with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.

Authors

Dr. Pierre Rahme Lebanese American University
Dr. George E Nasr Lebanese American University [biography]

Dr. George E. Nasr has been Provost at the Lebanese American University (LAU) since 2018, following his tenure as Dean of the LAU School of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kentucky and has published extensively on energy modeling and engineering education. He is an active member of IEEE and ASEE and serves on various international educational committees.
Dr. Abbas A. Tarhini Lebanese American University [biography]

Dr. Abbas A. Tarhini is an associate professor of Information Systems and Operations Management at the Lebanese American University (LAU). Dr. Tarhini is a member of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and an honorable member of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. He is the past president of the Middle East and North Africa Association for Information Systems (MENA-AIS), the AIS MENA chapter and the VP for research at the Information and Communication Technologies in Organizations and Society alliance (ICTO), France. He is an active member of the VIP Consortium and is on the steering committees of a number of international conferences. Dr. Tarhini served as a guest editor and a member of the editorial board of several peer-reviewed highly ranked journals. His research is published in recognized journals
Michel Elkhoury http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-2732-4190 Lebanese American University [biography]

Dr. Michel Khoury is the Dean of the School of Engineering at the Lebanese American University (LAU), where he leads strategic initiatives in academic innovation, industry partnerships, and program development. Previously Assistant Provost and Associate Dean, he played a key role in implementing LAU’s strategic plan and launching new programs such as Engineering PreMed and Chemical Engineering. A Professor of Mechanical Engineering, he has led ABET accreditation renewals, curriculum modernization, and major lab expansions. His research focuses on turbulence modeling and CFD for wind energy. He holds degrees from METU and Lehigh University and serves as an ABET evaluator representing ASME.
Evan Fakhoury http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9208-5037 Lebanese American University [biography]

Evan Fakhoury, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Lebanese American University and the Assistant Director of the LAU Industrial Hub. With a deep passion for innovation and entrepreneurship, Dr. Fakhoury has founded a VR/AR digital consulting agency, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to improve human-computer interaction. At the Lebanese American University, his research focuses on virtual reality, immersive learning, and engineering education. He is heading a VR/AR research unit at the school of engineering which is tasked with developing immersive VR/AR content for engineering courses.

An entrepreneur at heart, Dr. Fakhoury constantly seeks out new ideas that can improve lives. His leadership at the LAU Industrial Hub involves fostering innovation and collaboration between academia and industry, positioning the Hub as a center for research and development. In addition to his academic and entrepreneurial pursuits, he is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of engineers, bringing his expertise in immersive technologies into the classroom to enhance student learning.

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