Designing Multi-disciplinary Interactive Collaborative Learning in Healthcare Engineering Education Through Academia-Industry Partnership

The healthcare industry faces complex challenges that require a multidisciplinary approach, yet traditional healthcare education may not adequately prepare students for real-world challenges. To address this gap, an academia-industry partnership was established between the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The partnership provides multi-disciplinary interactive collaborative learning experiences in healthcare engineering education, with a focus on medical 3D printing. Students work in teams comprising engineering, medical, and healthcare professionals to design and develop medical 3D-printed solutions for clinical practice and medical education. The approach provides students with practical experience and essential skills valued in the healthcare industry while promoting collaboration, co-creation, and knowledge exchange across institutions. The proposed approach can serve as a model for academia-industry collaborations and can be further enhanced by incorporating other emerging technologies.