The Journey of Establishing and Operating an Innovation Center to Nurture Future Engineering Innovators

Abstract

This practice paper presents the establishment and operation of the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing (a.k.a. the HKU Inno Wing), a student innovation center at the University of Hong Kong. The project was initiated in 2016 within the engineering faculty, with the goal of creating a comprehensive workspace that nurtures students' innovation in engineering and technology. To gather valuable insights, we conducted visits to leading universities and makerspaces in the United States, studying their innovative infrastructure designs and program development. We then incorporated these experiences into the design of our center. Since its launch in 2020, the Inno Wing has actively supported Student-Initiated Interest Groups (SIGs) and Student-Initiated Courses (SICs) focused on technology exploration and development. These student-driven initiatives are interdisciplinary and project-based, providing a platform for students to engage in hands-on learning experiences. To assess the impact of the Inno Wing on students' learning and development, we conducted a study using student surveys and alumni interviews. The results indicate that participation in SIGs and SICs effectively enables students to leverage the resources provided by the center, enhancing their acquisition of core engineering competencies. These competencies include technical skills, innovation, problem-solving abilities, project management, teamwork, and leadership, all of which are essential for future engineers. However, the survey also identified areas for improvement, particularly in terms of networking opportunities and global awareness. Suggestions were made to address these shortcomings. This study offers practical insights for advancing engineering education through innovative infrastructure and serves as a reference case for planning, executing, and managing similar initiatives in higher education institutions.