abstract
- This paper describes an approach to addressing a common issue in engineering education: students often do not follow structured methodologies when tackling projects, either due to a lack of awareness or because they perceive these methodologies as impractical. As a result, their solutions frequently fail to fully meet customer needs, leading to inefficiencies in problem-solving and product development. This misalignment negatively impacts the university-industry relationship, resulting in poor communication and ineffective collaboration. Companies struggle to find graduates with the necessary skills, while students face difficulties applying academic knowledge to real-world contexts. In response to this situation, it is proposed to integrate Design Thinking with structured Product Development Tools, exemplified through a technological project developed for a solar energy company. This combination enables students' creativity to connect with methodologies relevant to industry, offering a more effective framework for engineering education. The implementation of this approach led to the development of a minimum viable product that met the company's stated needs, thus validating its effectiveness in fostering students' capacity for innovation and product development.