Integrating Design Thinking into Engineering Education: Enhancing Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills
A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102). This special issue belongs to the section "STEM Education".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1227
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Engineering education is continuously evolving to equip graduates with skills essential for solving complex global challenges. Recent trends emphasize not only technical proficiency but also creativity, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and human-centered approaches. Design thinking, with its focus on empathy, iterative development, and prototyping, presents a promising pedagogical approach to foster these competencies within engineering curricula.
Despite its potential benefits, integrating design thinking into traditional engineering programs presents challenges, including adapting existing curricula, developing faculty expertise, and effectively assessing student outcomes. This Special Issue addresses the need for evidence-based practices, innovative methodologies, and critical evaluations related to embedding design thinking into engineering education.
Objectives:
This Special Issue aims to:
- Explore theoretical foundations and practical applications of design thinking in engineering education.
- Present empirical research on the impacts of design thinking on student creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
- Share innovative teaching strategies and curricular designs incorporating design thinking.
- Examine assessment methods and metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of design thinking integration.
Scope and Topics of Interest:
We invite submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Pedagogical frameworks for integrating design thinking in engineering courses;
- Case studies demonstrating the impact of design thinking on engineering student outcomes;
- Faculty professional development and training in design thinking methodologies;
- Comparative analyses of traditional and design-thinking-based engineering education approaches;
- Assessment strategies and tools for measuring creativity and problem-solving improvements;
- Interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations utilizing design thinking;
Challenges and lessons learned in implementing design thinking in engineering curricula.
Dr. Nicole Pitterson
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- design thinking
- creativity
- problem-solving skills
- pedagogy
- innovation
- interdisciplinary collaboration
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