KEEN @ UWT

About KEEN

Founded in 2005, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) is a nationwide partnership of universities dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering education. KEEN’s mission is to equip engineering students with the skills to identify opportunities, create value, and become innovative problem-solvers. KEEN and its partners promote entrepreneurially minded learning through curriculum development, collaborative research, and national conferences and events.

Engineering Unleashed, powered by KEEN, is an online community of engineering faculty, staff, and administrators who share educational resources.

KEEN at the University of Washington Tacoma

The School of Engineering and Technology became a KEEN partner in August 2024, marking an exciting new chapter in our commitment to enhancing engineering education and creating an opportunity to connect with other engineering programs in the network, leverage resources, engage in collaborative projects, and identify other synergies.

This partnership will enhance education and teaching by integrating entrepreneurial mindset (EM) outcomes into curriculum, student immersive experiences, and a broad spectrum of co-curricular or extra-curricular programs. KEEN will complement the college’s ongoing focus on improving written and oral communication skills and discovering and confronting ethical and societal dilemmas.

UWT KEEN Initiatives

National KEEN Conference

At the beginning of each winter quarter, University of Washington Tacoma and staff attend the KEEN National Conference, engaging with peers from across the country to share best practices and bring new ideas back to our campus. Our participation strengthens our ability to foster entrepreneurial thinking in our students and faculty.

Faculty Development Summer Workshops

Each summer, faculty attend national Entrepreneurially Minded Faculty Development (EUFD) Workshops designed to support faculty in incorporating KEEN principles into their teaching. These workshops offer hands-on guidance, peer collaboration, and practical resources to help participants explore ways to embed curiosity, connections, and value creation into their courses.

Faculty from all engineering disciplines—and beyond—are invited to attend, whether they’re new to KEEN or looking to deepen their integration of the entrepreneurial mindset.

Faculty Led KEEN Initiatives

Get Involved

We invite faculty, staff, and students to be part of the KEEN initiative at the University of Washington Tacoma. Whether through curriculum development, research collaborations, or hands-on activities, there are many ways to engage with and contribute to this exciting effort.

For more information, contact the KEEN at UWT Leadership Team.