The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Fontys University of Professional Education in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, offers a course which is being developed around the principles of Concurrent Engineering.
From research we found that in general students are not completely aware of aspects of cost-effectiveness but they are fully oriented towards technical problem solving. In order to improve on this aspects, we introduced the framework of "design to cost": learn to choose the right tools, concepts and technologies in a way that successful products can be designed and developed.
This second edition of the course, based on 'design to cost', showed to be very successful and was strengthening our self-confidence. So in the third edition we started to work together with the regional industry.
The companies paid for the development and, this money is used for intensive group coaching by tutors and specialists. It turned out that the contacts with the industry proved to be a very stimulating factor for the students. Working together with industry raises the quality of the education and it proved to be an excellent preparation for the final thesis period of the students.