Bridging classroom learning and industry experience at the University of Detroit Mercy with Riipen.

Experiential learning has long been a cornerstone of the University of Detroit Mercy’s College of Engineering & Science (CES) mission. With a history of offering cooperative internships as part of its engineering programs, the University of Detroit Mercy is now taking that commitment further with a partnership with Riipen. 

Sitting down with Dr. Rick Hill, Associate Dean for Research and External Initiatives at Detroit Mercy and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, we discovered how connecting students to real-world industry projects through Riipen enhanced their learning experience, preparing students for future work. 

Bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry experience.

Dr. Rick Hill highlights the importance of the partnership between Riipen and the University of Detroit Mercy: "As technology continues to evolve, the critical thinking and problem-solving skills our students gain from these projects are more important than ever." 

Through Riipen, faculty can offer their students more industry-based projects, creating high-impact learning experiences critical to students’ career readiness.

Before working with Riipen, CES faculty faced a significant challenge: they lacked the capacity to identify and build relationships with external industry partners who could provide valuable project opportunities for their students. Riipen tackled this by facilitating connections between faculty and employers, eliminating the need for CES to dedicate resources toward finding and cultivating these partnerships.

The value of a Riipen-powered education.

The partnership between Riipen and the University of Detroit Mercy fits seamlessly into the university’s broader strategy of providing authentic work-based learning opportunities. Through Riipen, students are given the chance to work on projects for real businesses that help them build the professional communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills needed to thrive after graduation.

“We’re not just trying to produce technicians… [We aim] to develop well-rounded professionals who can communicate, problem-solve, and lead,” says Dr. Hill. “The personalized attention our students receive from faculty, combined with the experiential learning opportunities Riipen provides, helps us achieve these goals.”

Which courses use Riipen projects?

Riipen projects are currently integrated into several courses within the College of Engineering & Science at the University of Detroit Mercy. Some of the key courses that include real-life projects are:

• Senior capstone course for computer science majors
• Software engineering
• Web development
• Artificial intelligence
• Integrated electronic systems
• Introductory engineering design for first-year students
  

By incorporating Riipen’s platform, the University of Detroit Mercy ensures that students don’t just study theory; they apply it to solve real-world problems, making them more attractive candidates to employers.

A future of growth and opportunity.

Looking ahead, Dr. Hill hopes to expand the partnership with Riipen to offer even more opportunities for students across various disciplines. “I hope to expand these opportunities to a greater number of classes and see students hired as interns or full-time employees after graduation,” he says.

This vision speaks to the true power of work-based learning—giving students the tools to make meaningful contributions and helping them establish connections that will shape their careers.

What students say about their experiences with Riipen projects. 

Students like Benyamain Yacoob and Jalen Joni have seen firsthand how Riipen’s work-based learning opportunities shape their careers.

Benyamain, a student at the University of Detroit Mercy, worked on a healthcare project with Flourish. He recalls, “I could briefly see the bigger picture, but only when I was able to reflect and critically think about how we want to release the product to our target audience did I fully understand the vision.” Working on this project helped Benyamain gain clarity and confidence about his future career.

Jalen, another University of Detroit Mercy student, worked on improving a client’s website. He reflects, “The key outcome was that we successfully improved the client’s website. It was more professional, easier to navigate, and had all the important features connected. I also realized that websites are never truly finished, and there’s always room to improve.” Jalen’s experience in web development helped him gain deeper insights into his field and apply classroom skills to a real-world project. "As a team, we applied the skills we learned in class to redesign the layout, clean up the structure, and make the site more appealing overall."

How organizations benefit from working with Riipen. 

Students aren’t the only ones benefiting from this partnership. Employers are gaining access to motivated, talented individuals who can help them solve business problems. Organizations also benefit from the fresh perspectives students bring to their projects. As Dr. Hill notes, “Students find it motivating to apply the skills they’ve learned in class, and it gives them deeper insight into their field.” With minimal overhead or administrative burden, employers can quickly access this talent through Riipen’s platform.

The future of work-based learning at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Through the Riipen partnership, the University of Detroit Mercy students gain hands-on experience that sets them apart in the job market. As the university continues to expand its use of Riipen, the impact on students' career readiness and employers' access to skilled talent will only grow.

With the ability to offer projects in real-time, flexible scopes, and professional mentoring, Riipen makes work-based learning easier, faster, and more effective for both students and employers. This collaboration shows just how powerful experiential learning can be when institutions and industry come together to support student success.

Learn more about how Riipen is transforming work-based learning opportunities now! 

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