Industry-relevant undergraduate education in hands-on bioprocess engineering

Industry-relevant, hands-on training is critical in undergraduate bioprocess engineering education. This article emphasizes the benefits of active learning in industry-relevant safety regulations, facilities, equipment, processes, and products. The course tasks students to produce and analytically assess the properties of beer in a pilot-scale, food-grade, university facility (microbrewery). In addition to being an educational space, the microbrewery also serves as a research facility, enabling research-informed and industry-facing practical training. Students also visit a large-scale commercial brewery to draw parallels between pilot and industry-scale beverage production. Similarities with other bioprocess engineering applications, such as those in the pharmaceutical industry, are emphasized. Subjective and objective results from anonymous surveys revealed that the industry-relevant practical components enhanced student engagement, career interests, and learning outcomes.