1. First Year Design:
Engineering for Developing Communities
(EDC)
University of Colorado, Boulder
Mortenson Center in
Engineering for Developing Communities
(MC-EDC)
Lupita Montoya and Robyn Sandekian

2. Vision
To create an environment of inclusion and value
for diversity in the college of Engineering and
Applied Science while addressing the needs of
humanity.

3. Goals
Introduce undergraduate engineering students
at CU Boulder to EDC concepts to:
•develop an early engineering identity
• increase diversity in engineering profession
• introduce students to the humanitarian side
of engineering

4. Approach
• Learning outcomes
– Customer-focused design
– Understanding of socio-cultural context
– Traditional design skills
• Activities
– Empathy, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurial mindset exercises
– “Just-in-time” technical learning, non-technical skills
• Resources
– Institutional (shops, assessment, etc.)
– On-the-ground collaborations and relationships
• People
– MC-EDC affiliates, Peruvian partners, 2 TA’s, shop managers
• Gaps
– Basic market analysis, introduction to entrepreneurship principles

5. Our Commitment
• Next Steps
– Incorporate entrepreneurship mindset and
creativity exercises and new assessment tools for
these sections
– Fall 2011: Design and Social Innovation
– Spring 2012: Freshman Engineering Projects for
Latin America
• Needs/Partnerships
– Case studies, exercises, pedagogy of
entrepreneurship