This article presents a set of oriented actions to reinforce the engineering students' competences in teamwork, innovation and entrepreneurship. This aspect is specially considered in three stages of the engi neering studies: in first semester (focus of this article), during two semesters in the middle of the engineering studies, and in the last semester. The actions presented are in the context of a global curricular reform of our undergraduates engineering programs in the University of los Andes. This article presents an analysis of ExpoAndes , an activity with the students of first semester of engineering. These students face the challenge of building a team to m ake an innovating proposal from different engineering disciplines perspectives. This activity is supporte d by professors, managers and engineers. Every semester approximately 600 students have participated in ExpoAndes . It also develops three competences and skills: Team work, Observation of problematic, Exploration of a solution. This article intends to analyze how fir st semester engineering students are being motivated to develop the forgoing competences and to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the process. Based on t his analysis we want to start to evidence a coherence w ith the proposed activities in the half and in the end of engineering undergraduate program.