What is QUEST?

The Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams (QUEST) Honors Program is a challenging, hands-on program for University of Maryland undergraduates from three participating schools. Students complete five courses over three years and work on team-based, experiential learning projects in each course. Students who complete the program gain skills in teamwork, process improvement, systems thinking, product design and development, data analysis, and oral and written communication in addition to a network of passionate and motivated peers, alumni, faculty, and administrators.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY

QUEST students are from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. In a highly competitive process, 90 new “QUESTees” are admitted each spring as freshmen.

COLLABORATION & TEAMWORK

QUEST students work in multidisciplinary teams on projects and are fully comfortable navigating team dynamics, working with individuals with diverse skill sets and talents, and inspiring an environment for collaborating on ideas and tactical strategies.

COMMUNITY OF LEARNING

QUEST is a dynamic community of learning where students, faculty and staff, alumni, corporate partners, and University colleagues contribute to and benefit from the interactions and lessons learned.

HANDS-ON

QUEST projects focus on real challenges facing organizations and society today. Students apply total quality tools, design, and systems thinking principles and engage in customerdriven initiatives. Project outcomes develop real and immediately-applicable innovations that improve processes, drive productivity, and reduce costs for clients.

QUEST LEARNING OUTCOMES

Apply quality management tools, improve processes, and design systems

Communicate ideas effectively in writing

Communicate ideas effectively in professional environments through oral presentations

Manage projects and people using effective project management tools

Manage the new product development process for a new product or service that addresses an opportunity or problem

Use business etiquette skills to network and communicate in diverse professional settings and behave in a professional and ethical manner

Use quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques

Work in multidisciplinary teams with an understanding of different roles and how to negotiate conflict in these situations

Work in multidisciplinary teams to evaluate, analyze, and recommend solutions to real-world problems provided by corporate sponsors