The Real Projects course structure blends classroom support with organizational problem-solving learning. AUR faculty assigns a team of students to a project for a sponsor company. The sponsor company liaison orients the assigned team to the company's challenge and supports access to materials needed to complete the project. Meanwhile, the faculty supervises and directs students to navigate real-world complexities and apply research-based methods to create value for their project sponsor. The faculty provides students with fundamental training through four workshops, scheduled to fit the project's developmental timeline.
Through these immersive hands-on professional exchanges, students gain in-depth insights into solving problems organizations face within their industry, geographies, and competitive positioning. This offers a unique experience for liberal arts students to think strategically, innovate systematically, and hone their critical thinking and leadership skills.