University of North Texas 
As the Spring 2026 semester came to a close, University of North Texas educators gathered to learn about the innovative project-based learning (PBL) method at a faculty-led symposium.
Learning That Works: Transforming Teaching for Impact through Work-Integrated and Project-Based Learning explored how PBL brings together classrooms, community partners and workplaces to support student success through applied education.
Hosted by LEEF’s Teaching Hub and led by UNT Department of Multidisciplinary Innovation faculty, the event built on years of innovative teaching and scholarship in project-based and work-integrated learning.
PBL is at the heart of the department’s work, said Vice Provost of UNT at Frisco Michael Savoie. As its faculty join units across the Denton campus, they’ll integrate this approach into UNT as a whole.
Project-based learning prioritizes active engagement, said Associate Dean Shari Childers. The method’s research-based iterative process aims to give students “authentic and meaningful work” with high standards and lots of support.
“When students feel like a necessary part of a project, that is where real motivation comes from,” Childers said.
Clinical Associate Professors Sarvjeet Singh and Dev Mukherjee discussed how industry engagement in PBL is another opportunity for experiential learning. Students can apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios, as well as test out a professional field before leaving the classroom.
“They see themselves not only as students but also as professionals, even before graduation,” Singh said.
Industry engagement is possible in a variety of ways, including guest speakers, site visits, case studies and feedback on final projects and syllabi.
Including work-integrated learning into project-based learning can “create great humans that other great humans want to hire,” said Kevin Sanders, director of co-curricular student services for project-based learning and career services.
By embedding work experiences into the classroom, work-integrated learning also helps students feel confident that they’re learning skills that will lead to employment after earning their degree. Sanders encouraged faculty and staff to go beyond just internship opportunities and have students work on semester-long projects intentionally designed with specific learning outcomes, based on real job competencies.
“These projects have meaning well beyond the classroom,” said Clinical Assistant Professor Les Stanaland.
Stanaland and Clinical Assistant Professor Elizabeth Ranieri emphasized allowing “student voice and choice” in the development of PBL projects. Successful PBL implementation includes frequent feedback from the professor, industry partners and fellow classmates — which in turn teaches students how to give feedback.
At the symposium’s closing session, Kush Aggarwal, 2023 graduate of the project design and analysis program, said the ability to network and learn on the job were among the most important skills he learned at UNT.