2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry: Developing Co-op Best Practices for Student Success

Presented at CONST 3 - From Classroom to Jobsite: High‑Impact Industry Partnerships

Experiential learning is one of the most important pillars at XXX university. The co-op program is a prime example of experiential learning offered at the university, significantly enhancing student retention, degree completion, and job placement rates. During my sabbatical at XXX Company, I observed that the company is actively seeking best practices to enhance their co-op program, ensuring that students develop the necessary skills before graduation.
To support both students and industry partners, I developed a survey for construction management students. This study examines the quality of students’ co-op/internship experiences through a survey of construction management students, focusing on rotation systems, mentorship, feedback, technology exposure, curriculum alignment, soft skills development, and preparedness for workplace culture. Quantitative and qualitative analyses, including chi-square testing, were used to identify factors significantly associated with overall student satisfaction. Results indicate that mentorship quality, feedback practices, curriculum alignment, and workplace preparedness are strongly related to satisfaction, highlighting key areas for program improvement. Based on these findings, the study proposes a set of best practices aimed at enhancing co-op/internship experiences, supporting student success, and strengthening pathways to degree completion and workforce placement.

Authors

Dr. Boshra Karimi Northern Kentucky University [biography]

Dr. Boshra Karimi is an Associate Professor of Construction Management at Northern Kentucky University. She earned her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a concentration in Construction Management from Oklahoma State University and joined NKU in August 2018. Prior to that, she earned her B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tehran and her M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management from Sharif University of Technology. She has also attained the LEED Green Associate accreditation.

Dr. Boshra Karimi has more than nine years of teaching experience. She has served as an instructor at Ershad Damavand University, a visiting instructor in the School of International Studies and Outreach at Oklahoma State University, and a teaching associate in the School of Construction Management Technology at Oklahoma State University.

In addition to her academic experience, Dr. Boshra Karimi has over fourteen years of professional experience in the construction industry. She has worked as an Engineering Expert at Neyrperse Company, a Technical Office Supervisor at the Mapna Group, a Mechanical Engineering Supervisor (Professional Engineer) at the Iranian Construction Engineers Organization, and a Consultant at Roll-2-Roll Technologies LLC in Oklahoma.

Her research interests include sustainable project management, sustainability assessment, sustainable technology implementation, supply chain management, decision-making modeling, and big-data applications in construction. Her research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Dr. Boshra Karimi is the recipient of numerous awards, including Wise Women of NKU (2025), the College of Business Outstanding Teaching Award (2024), the ASC Regional Teaching Award (2023),the Robberson Summer Research and Creative Activity Fellowship (2017), the Calvin & Marilyn Vogt Endowed Scholarship (2016), the Outstanding Teaching Performance Award (2014 and 2015), and the Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Scholarship (2014). She also received numerous internal and external grants such as Open Educational Resource (OER) Instructor Grant (2023, 2024), MCA Fund (2024),NKU Faculty Summer Fellowship, MCAA’s 2020 JRGF Students Chapter Grant (2020), and College of Business Summer Funding (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024).
Dr. Mahdi Yazdanpour Miami University [biography]

Dr. Mahdi Yazdanpour (Senior Member of IEEE, ABET PEV) is an Associate Professor at Miami University. He previously served as an Assistant Professor and the Program Coordinator of Mechatronics Engineering Technology, as well as the Coordinator of the Institute for Student Research and Creative Activity at Northern Kentucky University. During his academic journey, he has had the privilege of exploring various engineering disciplines. His educational path began with a B.S. in Computer Engineering, followed by an M.S. in Industrial Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. This diverse academic background has enriched his problem-solving abilities and equipped him with the capacity to approach engineering challenges from different perspectives. He has over 11 years of experience in teaching and research in academia, having worked as an instructor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and as a visiting professor in the School of International Studies and Outreach at Oklahoma State University. In addition to his academic career, Dr. Yazdanpour has over 10 years of professional experience in industry, where he held various technical, managerial, and leadership roles in manufacturing, power plants, and oil & gas companies.
As an IEEE Senior Member, Dr. Yazdanpour actively serves as the Chair of the IEEE Cincinnati Section. He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the "2023 College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Junior Faculty Award" at Northern Kentucky University and the "College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award" at Oklahoma State University.
Additionally, Dr. Yazdanpour is the recipient of several internal and external research grants, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) Product Development Grant through KYNETIC Cycle 5, NIH Mid-South REACH, and the Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV) IMPACT Competition Award.
His research interests include Intelligent Mechatronic Systems, Human-Robot Interaction, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Mind-Controlled Systems, Medical Robotics, and Computer/Machine Vision.

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