An Introduction to the Undergarduate GEARE Program
Posted 22 Sep, 2008 in Online Presentations
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| Contributor(s) | Eckhard Groll Purdue University |
|---|---|
| Abstract | There is widespread agreement that engineering education must transform itself to produce global engineers. Global engineers must be able to function effectively on global teams in distance and face-to-face project work, as well as be fluent in how effective engineering solutions vary with culture. In 2001, Purdue University, in collaboration with the University of Karlsruhe in Germany, started to develop a strategic partnership network that now also includes Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, IIT Bombay in India, and Monterrey Tech in Mexico. These five universities have come together to realize the required transformation in global engineering education. The resultant Global Engineering Alliance for Research and Education (GEARE) includes faculty exchange, research collaboration, and reciprocal graduate and undergraduate education experiences for equal numbers of students from all partner universities. The undergraduate education component is a unique 24-month program that integrates: language education; cultural orientation; 3 month domestic and 3 month international internships at the same partner company or organization; one semester of study abroad; and a two semester face-to-face-, multinational design team project, with one semester abroad and one at home. Curriculum articulation is such that courses are transferable and offered so that there is no negative impact on time to graduation. Global industry partners are crucial to the success of the program as they provide the integrated domestic and international internship opportunities for all students, as well as supplying design projects. The first group of Purdue students went abroad in 2003. By 2008, more than 70 students have participated in the program. The Purdue participants are 23% female, compared to approximately 12% women overall in the ME program. Since 2002, the percentage of Purdue ME students participating in international experiences has grown from 3 to 10%. The placement experience of these graduates indicates that the global education provided by the undergraduate GEARE program is in great demand. |
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| Time | 12:30 PM, August 28, 2008 |
| Location | Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN |
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