Bringing more than 25 years of industry experience to his teaching, Raj Kamal takes an intentional, learner-centered approach to course design that reflects the needs of working professionals.
That’s an important approach, given that the students in Kamal’s online courses are located around the globe.
An instructor with the college’s Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, Kamal teaches EPD 610: Engineering Analysis for Decision Making and EPD 611: Engineering Economics and Management in the college’s online Master of Engineering Management program.
Using “backward design” and adult learning principles, Kamal aligns his students’ learning outcomes, assessments and instructional activities with a clear, scaffolded course structure while following an “absorb-do-connect” framework. And data on student learning outcomes show it’s working.
In his courses, Kamal uses industry reports, research articles and case studies that prompt students to think critically and analytically. They consider multiple, often competing, priorities and perspectives while applying financial, technical, organizational and strategic lenses to decision-making. “My teaching approach connects core concepts to real-world examples and students’ own professional experience, pairing rigorous analysis with hands-on applied work,” he says. “This enables students to use their learning immediately and confidently in their own jobs.”
Importantly, Kamal ensures he’s connecting theory to practice, giving students authentic, career-aligned assignments. For example, students use a seven-step methodology to address a decision they’re facing in their work—enabling them to develop and apply skills like defining a problem and objectives, developing decision criteria and presenting a solution. “Raj exemplifies what great online teaching looks like in practice,” says Heather Smith, InterPro director of online graduate programs. “His work has had a meaningful impact on both students and the broader program.”
For his excellence and impact in online education across course design, teaching effectiveness and learner engagement, Kamal received the InterPro Online Graduate Programs inaugural Excellence in Online Teaching Award in August 2026. InterPro staff and students recognized him during Campus Connect—an opportunity for online graduate students to visit Madison, meet each other and explore the UW-Madison campus in person.
In addition to his work as an engineering instructor at UW-Madison Kamal also owns the management consulting firm Credens LLC.
A version of this story originally appeared on interpro.wisc.edu.
Top photo caption: An instructor for the college’s online master’s programs, Raj Kamal, right (with Associate Dean Ed Borbely), is known for his impact in course design, teaching effectiveness and learner engagement. Submitted photo.