Industry Partners: How to Engage with our Students

Industry-Sponsored Capstone Projects 

Our semester-long Capstone Project Course offers industry partners a unique opportunity to engage with our talented Master of Engineering (MEng) students. As a project sponsor, you define the project scope and deliverables. Our students design solutions. 

Capstone Project Submission Form →

Students develop a project plan and budget at the beginning of the semester, and typically work 15-20 hours/week, to execute the project, under the supervision faculty and the guidance of a representative from the sponsoring organization.  Each student (or project team) will complete a final report and/or presentation, that effectively communicates all aspects of the project’s definition, solution approaches, progress, conclusions, and recommendations.

Why Sponsor M.Eng Capstone Projects? 

  • Potential high return on a minimal investment of time and resource 
  • Access to fresh perspectives and energetic problem-solvers
  • Build brand recognition among the future engineering leaders
  • Leadership & professional development experience for employees who serve as Project Mentors
  • Pay-it-forward” by providing meaningful, professional development experience for advanced engineering student

Industry Sponsor Responsibilities

  • Submit a Project Proposal including the Project Description and requirements, number of students and preferred qualifications
  • Identify a Project Mentor from your organization, who serve as the point of contact for interested students and meet regularly (typically weekly) with the student(s) assigned to your project
  • Supply any data and support necessary for project execution and completion
  • Cover the costs of any required student travel and/or materials or equipment necessary for project execution and completion that is not available to students at the University of Illinois

Intellectual Property & Confidentiality

All technical and business information that is generated by the student(s) or provided by the sponsor, in any form, is considered Intellectual Property of the sponsor. Specific guidelines that govern how information must be protected by students during this experience and beyond are outlined in the Course Project Agreement that is signed by the Industry Sponsor, the student, and the university.

For more information, please contact Lauren Stites at lstites@illinois.edu.


Other Ways to Engage

Internships/Employment

Contact Engineering Career Services to learn more about recruiting our professional Master of Engineering students.

Guest Speaker/Tech Talk 

Interested in sharing your insights? For more information, please contact Lauren Stites at lstites@illinois.edu

Students and teacher working together