MakerspaceCT, UConn Hartford Partner to Advance Engineering Education

MakerspaceCT is proud to announce a new collaboration with UConn Hartford to provide workshop space, instruction, and hands-on learning opportunities for students enrolled in ENGR 1166: Foundations of Engineering. This marks the first-ever partnership between these two prominent Downtown Hartford institutions, fostering a deeper connection between education and innovation in the city’s core.

UConn’s Foundations of Engineering course introduces students to engineering design principles and prototyping. Through this collaboration, students work in teams to tackle real-world engineering challenges, applying concepts from their coursework to develop innovative solutions. MakerspaceCT’s 28,000-square-foot facility in Downtown Hartford will serve as a hub for creativity, experimentation, and skills-building for this cohort of over 50 students.

Each student enrolled in the course is granted a membership to MakerspaceCT, providing them with access to the facility beyond class hours. This unique opportunity allows students to further develop their projects, refine their skills, unleash their creativity, and explore additional resources independently, enhancing their learning experience through extended hands-on engagement.

“Hands on, experiential learning is central to the College of Engineering and my ENGR 1166 course,” said Adrian Weidmann, Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut. “Collaborating with the instructors at MakerspaceCT is a wonderful opportunity, and my students are so excited to utilize the workshops. Each week they're trying new things and exploring more and more. I look forward to incorporating additional workshop capabilities in future iterations of our engineering courses.”

Under the instruction of Erik Johnson, MakerspaceCT’s Lead Instructor of Advanced Technologies, students will gain practical experience with industry-relevant equipment, including 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and electronics workstations. The course curriculum emphasizes problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation, key skills for aspiring engineers.

“The best thing about college students is their eagerness to dive in,” said Johnson. “The best thing about MakerspaceCT is that it is a playground for innovation where that eagerness turns into real-world skills and tangible creations.”

By integrating classroom instruction with real-world application, this partnership exemplifies UConn Hartford’s commitment to experiential learning and community collaboration. The program also reflects MakerspaceCT’s dedication to empowering students and professionals through access to cutting-edge technology and education.

For more information about UConn Hartford, visit https://hartford.uconn.edu/. To learn more about MakerspaceCT and its programs, visit https://makerspacect.com.

For more about the MakerspaceCT and UConn collaboration, visit: https://makerspacect.com/uconn2025.