In the SpotlightRough Country + Tiger Baja: Building Real-World Skills Together

The Tiger Baja program gives mechanical engineering students hands-on experience designing and building off-road vehicles for national competitions. It’s student-led, team-based, and focused on real-world application.

Here’s what students take away from it:

• Design and fabrication experience from start to finish
• Teamwork and problem-solving under real deadlines
• A chance to test what they’re learning in the classroom by building something that actually works

As Dr. Vipin Agarwal from the University of Memphis puts it, it’s a dynamic program that prepares students for the real world of engineering—not just the theory.

By teaming up with Tiger Baja, we can offer students more than a tour—we’re offering them exposure to the industry and the people who work in it.

Here’s how that makes a difference:

• Students gain insight into how off-road products are developed, tested, and used
• They can ask questions, get feedback, and see the process from a different perspective
• They connect with people who’ve turned this kind of work into a career

For students figuring out where they want to go next, that kind of access is powerful.

There’s only so much you can pick up from lectures. Real confidence comes from solving problems, working with your hands, and figuring things out as you go.

Through experiences like Tiger Baja and our plant visit, students:

• Apply engineering concepts in real projects
• Learn to adapt when something doesn’t go as planned
• Get a better feel for the kinds of decisions engineers make every day

Dr. Agarwal emphasized that this kind of hands-on learning builds both technical ability and self-assurance—skills that carry well beyond college.

The Tiger Baja program helps students develop the tools they’ll need in the field—whether that’s in product design, manufacturing, or any number of roles in engineering.

Here’s what they’re practicing:

• Team collaboration and communication
• Project planning and execution
• Technical skills like CAD, welding, and suspension geometry
• Critical thinking and troubleshooting

They also gain leadership experience by taking ownership of their builds and learning how to work together toward a common goal.

This visit was just the beginning. We’re excited about what’s next and how this partnership can continue to grow. There’s a lot of potential to give students even more access to the kind of work we do—through mentorship, technical support, and future collaboration.

As Dr. Agarwal put it, “I’m most excited about seeing our students grow through direct engagement with Rough Country.” We feel the same.

We’re proud to support programs like Tiger Baja that are shaping the next generation of engineers. These students are curious, motivated, and ready to learn—and we’re here for it.

Got thoughts or questions about the Tiger Baja program or how Rough Country supports future engineers? Drop a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.