Engineers are recognized as key players in the development of innovative projects thanks to their professional experience and their training. However, in some growing countries such as Morocco, involving innovation in engineering education is poorly integrated within engineering training curricula. In this study, we propose an innovation process model proper to the design and realization of innovative projects within engineering schools, particularly in the field of mechanical engineering. Our modeling approach is based on systems engineering. Experiments were conducted in the mechanical engineering department of an engineering school in Morocco to implement the proposed model in student projects. The students were guided to implement the proposed process and deploy innovative methods, then a quantitative assessment that considered their innovativeness and adherence to the innovation process was led. The innovativeness of the projects was assessed based on international patterning criteria, and an assessment system was used to analyze the level of compliance of the demonstration projects with the steps and support means and methods of the model’s process. The findings of the study enabled us to improve our model of the innovation process by including methodologies and instruments personalized to the environment of engineering schools and based on a technological approach that emphasizes interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological contributions. The current study enabled us to confirm that an innovative project carried out within an environment characterized by the interaction and management of a set of material and human resources and methods and engineering skills can help to boost innovation in engineering education.

Globalization is increasingly having an impact on the labor market, leading to strong competition. Nowadays, engineering missions have become more and more diversified. The customer-supplier relationship requires engineering schools to implement quality measures in favor of the various economic parties producing goods and services for a better acquisition of skills. This work aims to propose an improvement of mechanical engineering training programs in an engineering school in Morocco through the deployment of the QFD (Quality Function Deployment) quality approach. Our objective is to use the QFD tool in the field of engineering education. After the construction of the QFD matrix, we present the resulting analysis of the results and action plans to be implemented.

Innovation is considered as a parameter which reflect the level of development in emerging countries that have oriented their economies towards knowledge and innovation. Indeed, the international indexes used to classify countries according to the level of innovation are based on several technological, scientific and socio-economic elements. At the national level, it is important to measure innovation in all technical and scientific activities, particularly in engineering, whose main function is to propose creative and innovative solutions to complex technical situations. This importance consists in determining the level of performance in this field to be able to develop and stand out from competitors. This article is in line with this perspective, its objective is to evaluate innovation in mechanical engineering projects and to identify the parameters which characterize their implementation process. This work is a quantitative study based on an assessment grid composed of criteria defined from the literature review. This system is applied within the framework of an empirical study conducted on a sample of mechanical engineering projects carried out within companies belonging to different sectors in collaboration with a Moroccan engineering school. The results of this study are analysed statistically in order to verify whether mechanical engineering projects are innovative and follow a standard innovation process, and to determine the parameters that influence this process.