1 Combining Undergraduate Research and Industrial Practice: A successful Approach to University – Industry Relationship

(UPRM) in collaboration with renowned engineering companies has developed and implemented an educational model joining traditional co-op education and undergraduate research experience. The model has evolved into a well-rounded learning program with important benefits for all parties involved: students, academia, and employers. The approach consists in three basic steps: A pre-coop involvement in a particular project, development of the research project followed by a mentor from industry during the working stage, and a post-coop period in which the final reports, and communications are generated. This approach has been very beneficial for all, attracting funds to the department and support for short courses and laboratories from industry, better learning for students, and so on. The success of this project has provided with insights of what could be used to start up similar approaches in other places. An analysis of the factors that have helped vis a vis the actual availability is taken into considerations when suggesting steps to set up a program like this one. Index Terms Industry-university relationship, Student industrial experience, undergraduate research