The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) model has been developed and refined over more than two decades. In 2015, a $5 million multi-institutional grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust enabled its expansion to a wide range of institutions, collectively forming the VIP Consortium. By 2019, the Consortium’s efforts to advance the model and foster collaboration among its members earned it the ABET Innovation Award. Later that year, VIP Consortium, Inc. was officially established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with directors of VIP programs serving as its academic advisory council. Through this global network, member programs share best practices and collaborate on the continuous improvement and dissemination of the VIP model.
The mission of the VIP Consortium is to prepare college and university students to become leaders in tomorrow’s cross-functional workforce by supporting the implementation, growth, and success of Vertically Integrated Projects worldwide.
VIP programs bring together undergraduates from all disciplines, including STEM, Arts, and Humanities, to join faculty-led research teams as an alternative to traditional, lecture-based learning. Guided by faculty and graduate student mentors, undergraduates engage directly in research and innovation, contributing their knowledge and perspectives to tackle real-world challenges.
This multidisciplinary, experiential approach to higher education accelerates innovation, improves graduation rates, reduces inequities in learning outcomes, and equips students to thrive in cross-functional professional environments.
The Consortium connects VIP programs across six continents and numerous universities, providing faculty with the resources and tools to develop engaged, experienced students and prepare them for life beyond college.
Unlike many other high-impact programs in higher education, VIP is uniquely accessible, equitable, and scalable, delivering proven results in diverse academic settings. Each VIP program adapts the model to fit its institutional context, while the Consortium serves as the central hub, supporting partner sites through program launches, community building, and the refinement of VIP tools for program management and assessment. Since its establishment in 2019, the Consortium has successfully launched over 25 new VIP programs worldwide.
To discover all active VIP locations across the world, explore VIP Sites.