Value Creation Initiative (VCI)

WPI is pioneering the introduction of value creation as a core part of a higher education curriculum. The university’s distinctive project-based learning model provides an ideal foundation for developing these skills. Students who understand value creation and how that impacts customer value creation and can put it into practice are going to be in demand in the immediate job market and throughout their long-term careers.

Mission Statement:

WPI is dedicated to developing the world’s best value creators who can make a significant, positive impact on the world.

What Is Value Creation?

Value creation is the process for developing solutions and innovations that people want and that is better than all the alternatives. Students learn value creation principles as they would any other discipline—with repeated practice that leads to improvement. As students learn the practice of value creation learning and creating concepts, their success becomes more rapid, efficient, and effective.

WPI’s educational approach is ideal for learning and practicing in a value creation framework. Project-based work offers a distinct setting for real-world problem solving that meets a customer's needs. The many diverse talents of team members expand the potential impact, and the inherent teamwork highlights the power of feedback that’s given and received—a proven and continual component of value creation.

Why Is Value Creation Important to Students?

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Teamwork is essential to value creation.

WPI students want to make a meaningful impact with their work—value creation makes that possible. Students who master this practice use it across their work and personal lives. It applies to basic researchers, commercial professionals, educators, government officials, and entrepreneurs.

Value creation is

The primary job and responsibility of all professionals, in all positions, and in all professions
A core lifetime skill that becomes more valuable with experience
The ability that distinguishes the most impressive professionals

What Students Learn

Value creation is a process that takes practice and repetition to perfect. As students learn how to adapt these methodologies into their academics, professional work, and personal lives, they change the way they think about approaching and solving problems.

This discipline teaches students and professionals how to leverage innovation and creativity and match it with a solution that benefits society. The process teaches students these skills and more:

Create solutions that people care about
Identify important opportunities; not ones that are just interesting
Give compelling presentations
Form productive teams
Give and receive feedback
Implement the value-creators mantra: iterate, iterate, iterate
Form R&D proposals, business presentations, and venture pitches

VCI Programs for WPI Students and Professionals

WPI’s project-based learning educational model is an ideal method for teaching and learning the proven methodology of value creation. Project-based work allows students to fine-tune their focus, or value creation proposition while working with others to give and receive continual and constructive feedback.

At WPI, opportunities for value creation are found in areas including: