2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

From Classroom to Startup: Integrating Entrepreneurial Projects, Labs, and SDG Challenges into Engineering Curricula

Presented at Community Engagement Division (COMMENG) Technical Session 3

To meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), engineering education must transcend traditional disciplinary silos. This paper presents a curricular model piloted at an international University that integrates start-up labs, SDG-aligned innovation challenges, and industry co-mentorship into engineering and interdisciplinary programs. Drawing on frameworks developed by the university’s Strategic Committee on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the model embeds entrepreneurial pathways into Capstone and Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP), equipping students to translate technical solutions into scalable, purpose-driven ventures. Emphasis is placed on real-world problem solving, teamwork, and leadership development, with students engaging in ideation-to-market processes guided by both academic mentors and industry practitioners. Outcomes from the pilot phase demonstrate enhanced student engagement, cross-functional learning, and improved innovation readiness, making this a promising model for institutions aiming to transform project-based engineering education into entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Authors

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.
Dr. Abbas Tarhini http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-9441-1649 Lebanese American University [biography]

Abbas Tarhini is an Associate Professor of Information Systems and Operations Management at the Lebanese American University (LAU). His research focuses on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, technology adoption, and the organizational and societal impacts of emerging technologies. He has published in leading international journals. Dr. Tarhini is an active member of the Association for Information Systems (AIS), past President of the AIS Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Chapter, and serves in editorial and guest-editorial roles for several peer-reviewed journals. He also leads industry-funded AI and innovation initiatives and contributes actively to international academic and professional communities.
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. Pierre Rahme Lebanese American University (LAU) [biography]

Dr. Pierre Rahme is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Director of the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program at the Lebanese American University (LAU). He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toulouse, France. From 2017 to 2021, he served as Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Lebanese University. Dr. Rahme is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and his research has been published in several internationally recognized journals.

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