Introduction
This story begins with the story of Olin College of Engineering. While most institutions adapt incrementally, Olin began as a clean slate without departmental silos or static curricula. Its mission is to prepare students to "recognize needs, design solutions, and engage in creative enterprises for the good of the world."
The Olin story challenges conventional wisdom about research and teaching. Olin measures academic excellence by capabilities developed, and based on how its graduates lead, adapt, and build what the world needs. The university grounds its learning and research experiences in a community context.
Higher education faces growing scrutiny over its value, agility, and connection to public need. Olin is a provocative pedagogical experiment that gives rise to some of the most important questions of this book: What if institutions treated education as a platform for real-world impact rather than a pipeline of credentials? What if research and teaching fused into collaborative missions to address urgent challenges? What should education look like if its mission were to equip students to confront real-world challenges from day one?
This chapter explores how Olin redefined the role of a research institution, from transmitter of static knowledge to living laboratory where students, faculty, and partners co-create solutions that matter. It offers lessons for universities seeking to align their educational models with the demands of a changing world.
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