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A creative idea is a concept or a proposition with out of box thinking and is a logical status for a design process. Without creative idea or concept, the design is a standard problem-solving or optimization method. Creative ideas explore unknown design that contains characteristics and features anticipated by both designer and end users. Creativity is not searched or explored but formation of a concept (Hatchuel and Weil, 2009). Design by reasoning is the logic of a creative process that conceives the idea of building unknown objects. Creativity is derived from systematic design, axiomatic design, creativity theories, and artificial intelligence. The concept-knowledge theory or C-K design theory advocates the theory of reasoning so far as design is concerned. The C-K design theory explains that creativity is the conceptualization of design that is independent of any other design domain. It explains innovation, creation, and discovery within the framework of design processes. Creativity is an integral part of engineering design (Hubka, and Eder, 1996; Pahl and Beitz, 1996; Ullman, 2003). Hatchuel and Weil, 2009; suggest that design involves creativity. Innovation through creativity is important in technology, engineering, business and industry (Kelley and Littman, 2005; Mahle, 2007). These arguments set a policy that creativity, innovation and design should be an essential part of engineering education and an important student outcome (Vision 2030, National Transformation Plan of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
Faculty of Engineering at the Islamic University, Madinah integrated the “Creativity and Engineering Design” course into its engineering curriculum. The curse introduces the student engineering design, creative problem-solving techniques, teamwork, brainstorming, project planning, economic cost analysis, environmental impact, proposal, report writing, presentation skills, investigation and research for design and development. The engineering skill sets include reverse engineering, design of structural/mechanical/electrical/pneumatic systems, different testing and evaluation methods, manufacturing techniques in engineering, human factors in engineering design. Students are expected to design a civil/ electrical/ mechanical system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability in a team spirit and eventually present their design in front of an audience consisting of faculty and students.
The course is comprises with theory and laboratory work. It is a semester-long course involving of 18 weeks of Lab and theory work. Depending on the innovative design product, the Lab work varies. Students use 3D printing facility, which is available to all undergraduate students. The Lab facilities are available to all the students. The students are financed for this project up to a limit of $ (USD) 200.00. Additional funds are made available, through a review process, to the students if a creativity and engineering design project is selected for competition.
The National Transformation Program (“NTP”) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sets out an ambitious plan to reform education (www.vision 2030. gov. sa). The NTP is derived from Saudi Arabia's “Vision 2030” strategic plan, which is a roadmap for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about its development, economic transformation with a diversified economy for the next 15 years. The success of the Vision 2030 requires the education system to generate employment of young Saudis. In the education sector, the transformation process will require to maintain a modern curriculum focused on rigorous standards in numerical competence, professional skills, literacy, and ethical standards. The vision 2030 advocates in taking advantage of the country's demographic dividend by harnessing youth's energy by expanding entrepreneurship and enterprise opportunities for both male and female. The strategic educational objectives of the “vision 2030” and the national transformation program emanating from this initiative are likely to focus on (www.vision 2030. gov. sa):