“Innovative Office”: Building Future for Young Engineers Melany M. Ciampi Safety, Health and Environment Research Organization São Paulo, Brazil melany@copec.eu Luis Amaral Computer Graphics Center Guimarães, Portugal amaral@dsi.uminho.pt Claudio da Rocha Brito Science and Education Research Council São Paulo, Brazil cdrbrito@copec.eu Rosa Vasconcelos University of Minho Guimarães, Portugal rosa@det.uminho.pt Victor F. A. Barros Science and Education Research Council Braga, Portugal victor@copec.eu Abstract — This paper shows the course designed by COPEC – Science and Education Research Council education research team, for engineering students what is called “working with communities course”, which provides the students of engineering in 3rd year the chance to work with consultancy for the entrepreneurial community, in the region. It is for an engineering school of a private university and the goal is provide the needed resources to enable interdisciplinary efforts to prepare engineering students to tackle real-world challenges in engineering, entrepreneurship and new business ventures as professionals. The process is designed in order to offer a space that has been named after “innovative office”, where local entrepreneurs go with a problem or project to discuss and to find sustainable solutions under the consultancy of young engineers. So far the program has been working well and is opening doors for young engineers. Keywords — Entrepreneurship; sustainable solutions; project development; innovative office; working with communities. I. INTRODUCING At the present engineers with technical skills must also learn how to work in interdisciplinary teams, how to develop designs rapidly, how to manufacture sustainably, how to combine art and engineering, and how to address global markets. It is imperative to provide future engineers opportunity in the work market has become now part of university formation, as a way to assure also the future of university. Enterprises and universities have still in many places difficulties in working together, it is up to the engineering schools and universities to have the initiative to enhance their programs, to assure the proper formation for future professionals that can perform in this mutant work environment of 21st Century. In accordance with the National Academy of Engineering, USA report “The Engineer of 2020” paints a picture of a dynamically changing and evolving world: “The successful future engineer will need strong analytical skills, practical ingenuity, creativity, good communication skills, business and management knowledge, leadership, high ethical standards, professionalism, dynamism, agility, resilience, flexibility, and the pursuit of lifelong learning”, the report says. Presently the opportunities for professionals seem to be very narrow once economic crisis is impacting countries and communities worldwide, as the result of a natural cyclic wave of economy until a new economic model starts to work somehow. To provide future professionals an opportunity in the work market has now become part of university training as a way to assure the future of university. This paper describes a course designed by COPEC – Science and Education Research Council education research team, for engineering students which is called “Working with Communities Course”, providing 3rd year engineering students the chance to work with consultancy for the entrepreneurial community in the city. The goal is to offer a space that has been named “Innovative Office”, which local entrepreneurs can refer to with a problem or project to discuss and to find sustainable solutions. Engineering students then work using their creativity to design and present solutions within the constraints of ethical practice grounded in science and engineering methods and standards. The process involves face-to-face meetings and discussions with entrepreneurs of the city, from the presentation of the problem until the delivery of the plans. 978-1-4799-8454-1/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE 2015 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference 125