Implementation of a Project-based Learning Approach to Undergraduate Education: Case Study of Optimization Course in Industrial Engineering

This paper focuses on the benefits of a course-based undergraduate research project experience in industrial engineering. Undergraduate students in optimization course are involved in a research project on recognition of recycling opportunities in a health care system located in Ohio, U.S. A new multi-criteria decision-making technique based on a fuzzy set theory and VIKOR method is applied to assess health care waste disposal technologies including incineration, steam sterilization, microwave, and landfilling. The proposed approach estimates the GHG reductions and potential economic benefit derived from increased recycling for the case study. The key findings from the study demonstrate that the undergraduate research improves the students’ attitudes towards engineering, higher-order cognitive learning, self-efficacy, ease of learning the subject matter, team working and communication skills; all relevant objectives related to engineering accreditation.