Project-based learning gives Master of Engineering students experience working with industry, government

Engineering students are familiar with capstone projects – final semester group projects focused on real-world problems. For Master of Engineering students at Virginia Tech, the one-semester capstone hits another level: working with industry partners. 

The Institute for Advanced Computing collaborates with companies and government agencies in the greater Washington, D.C., area that bring their own complex, technology-based projects to the table. In one-semester capstone projects or year-long Integrated Project Design courses, teams of computer science and computer engineering graduate students work with mentors from the partner organizations as they design and implement original projects.

“We are excited about the range of projects for this year and the opportunities they create for our students and our partners,” said Kirk Cameron, interim director of the Institute for Advanced Computing, which manages the Master of Engineering programs in computer engineering and computer science and applications. This past fall, the project-based initiative reached new heights with 115 Master of Engineering students participating in projects with companies and government agencies, including with Boeing, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Secret Service, and Inbox America. 

Among the new partner organizations was Alexandria-based artificial intelligence (AI)-powered workforce optimization start-up company MARi, which posed this challenge: develop a multi-agent AI instructional design system that accelerates online course development and content creation. 

“Right now, a lot of government agencies have legacy courseware that's boring and often dominated by PowerPoints,” said Nancy Belmont, vice president of MARi who served as the team mentor. “But what if we could [input that courseware and] pop out something that's more modernized and engaging? We’d like to be able to upload subject matter expertise and have it be turned into a course without an instructional designer needed.” 

MARi asked Virginia Tech for an agentic workflow that puts as much automation into this process as possible.

Six Master of Engineering students spread around Virginia took MARi’s challenge and, with a pivot in the tool’s target audience, made it their own by creating a multi-agent AI tool to address students’ study needs. They positioned learners as the primary users, shaping every feature to help students transform static course materials into personalized, interactive study tools.

“What makes our system unique is we truly put personalization first,” said Sanjana Venkatesh, noting that the system adapts lessons and quizzes to each learner’s style and context. Venkatesh completed her degree while working at Raytheon Technologies as a software engineer.  

The agentic AI tool, named IDEATE, generates, evaluates, and revises content to the user’s specifications while using prompt-engineering techniques to reduce hallucinations.

Teamwork and mentorship brings project-based learning to life

Venkatesh teamed up with five other students on the MARi project: Tarun Singh Bondili and Nidhi Sharma were also based in Alexandria and Blake Hewitt, Craig Huang, Rhys Jones based in Blacksburg. They participated in a weekly capstone course taught by Melissa Cameron, met regularly with Belmont and other colleagues from MARi via Zoom, and communicated about changes and updates on the project utilizing a group Discord channel. 

Each week, they organized their workflow into industry-style “sprints” to ensure the project was completed on time. 

“This project has given us a good experience of what working with a customer might be like,” said Jones, who is starting a new position at Deloitte as a business technical solutions analyst in the D.C. area this month. 

“It's been pretty fun, because it feels like working for a company. You have an overall deliverable, and you have a specific section to complete by the end of each sprint,” said Sharma, who focused her graduate studies on software engineering and AI. “I think one of the most positive experiences is getting feedback from people on how we could do better, and then enhancing every feature.” 

In addition to the varying geographic locations, the team members brought diverse levels of experience. Several students started the Master of Engineering program directly following their undergradute education with the Virginia Tech 4+1 program, while others had considerable work experience. 

“With different backgrounds and understandings, you hear all these different perspectives. I really feel that's what makes our team great. That's what I really love,” said Venkatesh.

Presentation Day

The MARi team joined 22 other teams of Master of Engineering students in December at the Boeing Auditorium of the university’s new academic building in Alexandria to present projects from the semester. 

The presentation, like the semester’s work, was completed in a hybrid format with four team members in person and two presenting remotely. Team members showcased IDEATE, demonstrating how a student can use the tool to create their own ideal study guide. 

All six students earned their master's degrees in December. 

“No matter what job you are in, being able to manage your own project and communicate with your boss, your teammates, your stakeholders – those are what make a great employee,” said Belmont. “It's, ‘Can you ask the right questions? Can you communicate in the right way? Can you manage the project so that it's done on time?’ That’s what we're looking for when we’re bringing on a new employee. And those types of skills are what the Capstone helps teach.”

Interested in learning more about the Virginia Tech Master of Engineering? Find out more or apply here, or join an upcoming online or in person information session.