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Academic Offerings

What is Project-Based Learning?

Project-Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.

At the Najim Center, we make project-based learning come alive!

Our focus:

  • Providing students with opportunities to work on REAL WORLD issues that both domestic and global organizations are facing.
  • Helping startups, corporations and nonprofits identify innovative ways to solve their issues by way of project management.

Project-Based Learning allows students to:  

  • Work collaboratively (diverse team of students across disciplines, faculty, and businesses from all types of industries)
  • Solve Problems (learning from failure and possibly having to start over) 
  • Be Creative (innovative, out of the box) 
  • Think Critically (analyzing and evaluating of the issue)
  • Manage Projects (time management and priority of task) 
  • Get Curious (Ask questions) 
  • Become Empowered (take ownership, reflect on and give back) 

Become a Najim Strategist

Fall and Spring Opportunity

Najim Strategists serve as consultants to an organization to aid in issues, challenges, or opportunities they are currently facing. Whether a start-up, corporation, or non-profit, Najim Strategists find innovative ways to solve the unique issues of the organization through project management. Once accepted to the program, strategists are placed in teams and given a problem the organization needs to solve. Strategists will have 8 weeks to research and design a solution for the organization's problem. Strategist teams are expected to meet and stay in contact with the organization liaison throughout the project timeline. During the last week of the project, the strategist team presents their research findings and solution to the organization.

Interested in becoming a Najim Strategist?

Apply Here

Najim Strategists working with Pearl Hospitality

Civic And Social Engagement Challenge (C.A.S.E.)

Spring

The C.A.S.E. Competition is centered around Corporate Civic and Social Engagement, focusing on challenging a diverse group of students to analyze and propose innovative recommendations for real-world challenges and issues related to corporate involvement in civic and social initiatives. This competition encourages participants to delve into the importance of corporate engagement beyond traditional business activities and comprehend its impact on society, communities, and the organization's overall success.

C.A.S.E. provides a palatable platform for students to explore an organization's evolving landscape and complex corporate responsibilities. By participating, students will gain valuable insights into the importance of businesses actively engaging in societal and environmental issues, preparing them for future leadership roles that require a holistic understanding of corporate citizenship. Learn more!

Register Here

CASE
The Najim Center offers courses to help you make connections between your classroom experience and your career journey. These activity-based courses allow you to ideate potential career paths, build career readiness skills, and prototype experiences. Whether you know exactly what you want to do upon graduation or have no clue, these courses will help you design next steps and make the most of your UTSA experience.

Explore Fall and Spring Courses

Join us for an interactive and innovative approach to career planning using design thinking! Through self-reflective and group activities, you will ideate, experiment, and radically collaborate with peers to design your path forward as a college student, for your career and your life. 3 credits hours. Register through your myUTSA account with the CRN number 44048.

Further explore yourself and future career through this interactive course! Learn how to “tell your story” and network effectively by showcasing your talents and skills. Build your radical collaboration, market research, and communication skills by working in a team to solve a real-world problem for a local company. 3 credit hours. Register through your myUTSA account with the CRN number 40160. 

This is a service experience that enables you to explore the connection between individual, group, and community values and complete a community advocacy project you are passionate about in San Antonio! Using the Social Change model, you delve deeply into the basics of leadership and advocacy and explore how to utilize them to address community challenges. 0 credit hours. Must be accepted into the Advocacy Internship program to enroll in this course.  

This is a collaborative group experience where you serve as consultants to an organization to aid in issues, challenges, or opportunities they are currently facing. Whether a start-up, corporation, or non-profit, you help find innovative ways to solve the unique issues of the organization through project management. 0 credit hours. Must be accepted into the Strategist program to enroll in this course.