Conference Session

A Global Engineer: International and Domestic Engineer

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Claudio da Rocha Brito, Science and Education Research Council; Melany M. Ciampi, Safety, Health and Environment Research Organization

Tagged Divisions

International

OrganizationAbstractThe discussions after the Bologna Process in Europe is about to graduate a global engineer, i.e.,an engineer who thinks globally and acts locally. The engineer's training is long; it is not easy toface the demand for Institutions well-equipped labs, etc. The number of students who chooseengineering as a career decreases every year, and it is a phenomenon that occurs in the westernworld. So, add to the table the need to motivate students who will leave the K12 to pursuecareers in technology has been a huge challenge. Another aspect that must be discussed is aboutthe engineering professor who has to deal with very different students than s/he was. About thatthere is already an organization that for 39 years has been preparing, certifying

Conference Session

International Study Abroad Programs & Student Engagements

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey Evans, Bucknell University; Jablonski Erin, Bucknell University; Buffinton Keith, Bucknell University; Richard McGinnis, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

International

," whichcounted as a free elective or an engineering elective, depending on department, and fulfills the“global and societal perspectives” course requirement within the Engineering College. 3 Theprogram dates (e.g., mid-May to early-June) are selected so that the program begins shortly afterfinal examinations and ends in time for students to return home for summer internships. Allengineering students who have completed their sophomore year by the time of departure areeligible to apply.A study abroad experience helps prepare engineering students to meet the changing demands ofthe profession and better prepare them for a career in the global economy. 4 To that end, theactivities of the program are designed to stimulate the students’ awareness and thinking

Conference Session

Global Engineering Education: Intercultural Awareness and International Experience

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brent Jesiek, Purdue University; Deepika Sangam, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Juila Thompson, Purdue University; Yating Chang, Purdue University; Demetra Evangelou, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

International

the international labor market and workplace imperatives; • Understanding of the international business, economy and world market; • Competency in applying engineering solutions/applications in a global context.16The authors have used surveys to identify gaps between employer perceptions of the importanceof attributes as compared to their satisfaction with the actual performance of recent graduates.In the more specific context of global engineering education, Lohmann et al. have noted acontinued dearth of research on student learning, career impacts, and intercultural proficiency:“Largely absent are rigorous methods for assessing foreign language ability or competenciesspecifically related to professional practice within the academic

Conference Session

Global Engineering Education Cross-Cultural Awareness and Social Impacts

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Luis Gerardo Chang, Universidad de Piura; Christine Marie Fiori P.E., Virginia Tech; Edward J. Jaselskis, North Carolina State University; Cliff Schexnayder, Arizona State University; Lisa G Hogle, Arizona State University; Jennifer S Shane, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

International

areas were focused in one or more of the major themes of the project. Theseincluded hydraulics, hydrology, geotechnical engineering, construction, earthquake engineering,archeology, anthropology, and history. The committee also sought participants in various stagesof their academic careers, to include undergraduate, graduate students, post-doctoral students,and junior faculty.The recruitment in South America was targeted to universities with which the researchers hadprevious relationships. These included universities in Perú, Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile.These countries also represent areas through which the Inka road network extended.Dr. Ramiro Matos, NMAI Director, Office for Latin America and an archaeologist is directingthe Smithsonian

Conference Session

International Division Technical Session 2

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Sigrid Berka, University of Rhode Island; Bing Mu, University of Rhode Island; Lars Olav Erickson, University of Rhode Island; Iñaki Perez-Ibanez, University of Rhode Island

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

which you ask a colleague at your internship site about her/his academic preparation, career path, and other questions about the biographical facts of this person. Conclude your video with a short segment in which you talk about how this person’s career path compares to yours or to that of someone else in the US. 7. Write a technical Create a glossary of 35–50 technical words or expressions in yourdescription!    language of study that relate to your internship. Then write a detailed 250-word description of a technical process or object that is

Conference Session

Develop Course / Materials / Topics for a Global Engineering Education / International Poster Session

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ashley Ater Kranov, Washington State University

Tagged Divisions

International

technicalwriting/ research methods course offered at Virginia Tech, the author notes that his department’sapproach to successfully preparing graduate students for their graduate student career and futureprofessional career is not common and initially met much resistance from faculty. In general,faculty considered the teaching of writing in the discipline at the graduate level unnecessarysince a writing course is decidedly un-technical and that students typically have had sixteen yearsof writing instruction prior to entering graduate school. Yet, his department could not ignore thatnative English speaking students and ESL students alike were not equipped to conduct researchand communicate that research in writing at what they considered to be graduate

Conference Session

International Division Technical Session 4

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Zheping Xie, Tsinghua University; Xiaofeng Tang, Tsinghua University; Fujun Jin

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

professor for departments of Mathematics and Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua throughthe invitation of the university President Y. C. Mei and the dean of engineering Y.H. Ku (Wei2001). At the 10th International Congress of Mathematicians (Oslo, Norway) in 1936, Wienerpublished a paper about gap theory on behalf of both Tsinghua and MIT. Wiener had two paperspublished in the Chinese Journal of Electrical Engineering in 1935 and in 1936 respectively: OnOperational Calaculus and On the Kron Theory of Tensors in Electric Machinery. In his publishedbiography, Wiener cherished the year spent at Tsinghua as a very important time of his academiccareer. “If I were to take my specific boundary point in my career as a journey-man in science

Conference Session

International Division Technical Session 4

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Haritha Gnanasegar, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Tawni Paradise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Ramida Theeravachirakul, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Soumya Khanna, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Margee Pipaliya, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

most international students faced challenges during their firstsemester and that they were unsure how to seek help for these challenges. Students have alsoshared that ISST supported them with their career and academic challenges, but that they do notfeel ISST addressed their desire to connect with American students. Alongside the interviewresults, this paper will also present details of ISST and its offerings for students. This paper couldbe useful to colleges looking for manners in which they can fully support international students,specifically at the discipline-specific level.1. Introduction The transitional experience to college brings lots of firsts for all undergraduate students,as they are navigating a new educational system and

Conference Session

International Division Technical Session 5

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Luca Quadrifoglio, Texas A&M University; Maria Claudia Alves, Texas A&M University; Ahmarlay Myint, Texas A&M University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

from one I grew up in;” “You grow so muchas a person, you push yourself out of your comfort zone, and you learn so many skills that willhelp you in the long run during your career;” and “I’m extremely thankful for this program andfor the lifelong memories and impact it has left me with. I know I will be a better student, friend,employee, and person because of this experience”.The CVEN Rome Program appears to benefit students, as manifested via a slight increase inGPA. An increase in GPA indicates classes following the program did not suffer from lack ofbase knowledge that would have been obtained on the trip. When asked about their experience,students provided highly enthusiastic responses with positive agreement to every Likert scalequestion

Conference Session

Cultural Issues in Engineering: International Division Technical Session 2

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Miguel Andres Guerra, Universidad San Francisco de Quito; Homero Murzi, Virginia Tech; Johnny C. Woods, Jr., Virginia Tech; Abram Diaz-Strandberg, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

International

Ecuador, which isthe first part of a larger study. Cultural Dimensions scores vary among engineering majors.However, they are very similar overall. Although the participants were from Ecuador, we found itinteresting that the results of the survey in some dimensions were different to what Hofstede’stheory says about Ecuadorian culture. Although we are not comfortable making any claims at thisexploratory stage of our research, we consider that this is something that requires furtherexploration. Maybe the students that select engineering as their career path have a unique way ofthinking and their engineering culture is stronger than their national culture. For example, studentsin engineering might perceive that their work is more individualistic

Conference Session

Preparing Engineering Students for International Practice

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Aidoo, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Shannon Sexton, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology; James Hanson, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Kevin Sutterer, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Robert Houghtalen, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

International

. The goal is to contact these students a couple of years after graduation to assessthe impact of international design experience on their professional career and growth.ConclusionsIn order to provide students with some international experience with regards to the globalworking environment and how to deal with the different cultural and educational environments,the OSUDEC project brought together student teams from the CE Department and EWB-RHIT,a professor, a client, and a local engineer from the project-source country. Some lessons learnedfrom this experience are: • The project provided the students the opportunity to consider economic, social and societal impact, application of appropriate technology, and the limitations of the

Conference Session

Engineering Education in India, Central and Eastern Asia

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Xia Wang, Oakland University; Gary Barber, Oakland University; Laila Guessous, Oakland University; LianXiang Yang, Oakland University; GuangZhi Qu, Oakland University; Ishwar Sethi, Oakland University

Tagged Divisions

International

become good friends. I think we will be able to help each other out in the future with our careers and we will be able to continue to learn from each other.” “I was impressed by Chinese culture and I find it very interesting. I was impressed with how friendly the Chinese students are as well as there strong work ethics.” “Sometimes it was very difficult to make decisions as a big group so I definitely think that breaking up into smaller groups is more effective and lets all the students really enjoy themselves more.”For the trip from Beijing to Shanghai, a train ride was arranged instead of a flight. The facultycoordinator intentionally arranged this train ride since it is the most common travel means inChina and was intended to give

Conference Session

Global Engineering Education: Developments, Implementations

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ashraf Alkhairy, Alfaisal University; Leland Blank, Texas A&M University; Duane Boning, MIT; David Cardwell, University of Cambridge; W Craig Carter, MIT; Nick Collings, University of Cambridge; Allan Hayhurst, University of Cambridge; William Milne; Peter Robinson, University of Cambridge; Warren Seering, MIT; Kenneth Smith, MIT; Sallie Sheppard, Texas A&M University; Bill Stronge, University of Cambridge

Tagged Divisions

International

in a general format using the categories: ≠ Knowledge ≠ Research skills and techniques ≠ Research environment ≠ Research management ≠ Personal effectiveness ≠ Communication skills ≠ Networking and team working ≠ Career management Page 14.346.15Formal PhD-level courses, doctoral dissertation research, and two specially designed coursesin teaching development, and research development and management contribute to theseoutcomes in varying and documentable forms. Table 8. Example Graduate Level Concentration and Specialty Area Courses MEng: Applied mechanics

Conference Session

International Case Studies, Collaborations and Interactions

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shi (Stan) Lan, DeVry University-Chicago; Yaqing Mao, Beijing Normal University, China

Tagged Divisions

International

paid-jobs) would negatively impact students’ academic performance.8-10 On the other hand, appropriate amount of work experience will develop students’ technical skills, customer service skills, and their well-rounded capability in their employment immediately after graduation, and therefore would enhance students’ employability and their future professional career. This research found that students sampled in the United States spent substantial amount of time on paid-jobs, while students sampled in China literally spent no time on paid-jobs. The infrastructure of tuition systems, the means of student financial assistance, and other family factors may play important roles in the difference between

Conference Session

Global Engineering in an Interconnected World

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Waddah Akili, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

International

. Many were reduced to the role of a “technician”, and some have abandoned Page 11.1257.7engineering, all together, to pursue other careers. This is attributable, to some extent, to colleges’failure in creating an educational experience conducive for the development of the characteristicsmentioned above. The author(9)reported the outcome of a survey of engineering employers in theRegion, that summarized frequently cited perceptions of the weaknesses of recent engineeringgraduates: lack of design capability and creativity, deficiency in thinking critically andindependently, narrow view of engineering and related disciplines, weak communication

Conference Session

International Educational Experiences (1)

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Donna M. Ebenstein, Bucknell University; Margot A. Vigeant, Bucknell University; Jeffrey C. Evans P.E., Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

International

the former Minister of Mines and Energy to studentsfrom various universities to waiters and strangers off the streets. The engineering aspects werefascinating, but I will retain what I learned about people-interactions and languages and differentcultures for far longer than I will be able to recite the process flow diagram of how sugar isconverted into ethanol. In many ways, I think the cultural/economic/political discussions we hadand activities we did will be more beneficial to me in my future engineering career than theobviously engineering-related ones.” (Student from ENGR 290 Brazil, 2010)While these data provide an indirect measure of student gains from the course, the authors alsorecognize that the impact of this program may only be

Conference Session

International Research Experiences

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ming Li, Tsinghua University; Qing Lei, Beihang University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

cultivation objectives into all aspectsof talents cultivation of engineering education;37shifted from “teacher-based” teachingparadigm to “student-based” teaching paradigm, regularly conduct student satisfactionsurveys to understand students’ learning experience, learning gains and career developmentneeds, and design teaching system, allocate teaching resources, adjust curriculum system,improve teaching methods, perfect teaching environment, improve learning follow-upassessment, based on student learning needs and capacity requirements, really making studentbenefit and satisfy.375.4.2. Cultivation of Evaluation Culture, Formation of Joint ForceColleges and universities should reconstruct the responsibilities of all stakeholders to shapean evaluation

Conference Session

Nontraditional Teaching Approaches

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Walter McDonald, Virginia Tech; Daniel S. Brogan, Virginia Tech; Vinod K. Lohani, Virginia Tech; Gopalkrishna H Joshi, KLE Technological University

Tagged Divisions

International

another stating “It is a boring topic”. Those students who listedBalloon Drop and Straw Tower / Book Holder felt that the activities were not practical and were too easy.For example, one student stated “It didn’t seem that we actually need to be an Engineer to solve thisproblem. Any person with brains could do it!” Finally, many of those categorized as Other listed “theoryconcepts” demonstrating that some students did not find theory valuable. Students who indicated that LabVIEW helped them the most, stated that they believed it was atool that they could use throughout their academic and engineering careers. For example, one studentstated that “LabVIEW because it will help us in the future” and anther stated that “LABVIEW was theimportant

Conference Session

International Research Experiences

Collection

2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Benjamin B. Wheatley, Colorado State University; Kristine Marie Fischencih, Colorado Sate University ; Lisa Abrams P.E., Ohio State University; Sheryl A. Sorby, Ohio State University; Harlal Singh Mali, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur; Anil Kumar Jain MD DNB MNAMS, Dr. P.K. Sethi Rehabilitation Center, Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital, Jaipur, India; Tammy Lynn Haut Donahue, Colorado State University

Tagged Divisions

International

,respectively). While the finite element module had a slightly lower score (Figure 2, question 8,average Likert score of 3.75), this may have been due to changes in specific finite elementsoftware while abroad and availability of specific software in India versus the United States. Figure 2. Average Likert scores from the post survey for questions related to student preparedness. Overall, the circumstance of meeting, living, and working with new peers in aninternational setting did not seem to cause personal or professional issues during the program.While it is difficult to make strong conclusions from such a small sample size (four students),variability in personality, career interests, and

Conference Session

International Division Technical Session 5

Collection

2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bernardine Ngozi Nweze, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria; Benedict Uzochukwu, Virginia State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

age [16]. Chemistry departments, through a variety of courses and programs,provide opportunities for students to explore the nature and significance of chemistry forknowledge about ourselves and the world around us [17]. The chemistry field, as a major area ofstudy, provides excellent preparation for graduate study in chemistry, biochemistry, chemicalengineering, environmental sciences and the medical sciences. It can also be useful to thosewhose later professional or business career may be related to chemical materials or processes. This implies that in developed countries, faculty research projects and curriculum involveundergraduate participation. Thus, the developmental role of chemistry becomes wellpronounced appreciated and adequately

Conference Session

Cooperative and Project-based Global Learning

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karim Altaii, James Madison University; Shannon N. Conley, James Madison University ; Samy El-Tawab, James Madison University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

] S. R. Spodek, L. Gerhardt, and D. J. Mook, “Study abroad: Impact on engineering careers,”age, vol. 8, p. 1, 2003.[5] E. J. Berger and R. Bailey, “Designing short-term study abroad engineering experiences toachieve global competencies,” in ASEE Annual Conference Expo, vol. 21, 2013, pp. 1–21.[6] J. B. Ross, K. V. Johnson, and K. W. Varney, “A multidisciplinary approach to studyabroad,” in American Society for Engineering Education. American Society for EngineeringEducation, 2011.[7] J. Nelson, “Developing an international study abroad program that is sustainable from bothfaculty and student perspectives,” in American Society for Engineering Education. AmericanSociety for Engineering Education, 2009.[8] T. Seager, E. Selinger, and A. Wiek

Conference Session

Humanitarian and Sustainability in a Global Engineering Context

Collection

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Renetta G. Tull, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Shawnisha Hester, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Yarazeth Medina, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Denise Nicole Williams, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Hector E. Medina, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Erika T. Aparaka, University of Maryland College Park

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

related to SDG 5: Gender EqualityStudents were required to attend the “Women in STEM” forum at the LACCEI conference inCosta Rica. Most of our female participants found the experience of talking about genderequality "empowering," while the male participants mentioned the need to to transformthemselves into "male champions," and increase awareness amongst their peers. Table 5showcases questions that arose as a result of conversations related to SDG 5, which speaksdirectly to gender.Table 5: Questions on “Gender Equality” (SDG 5) to Stimulate Online Blogging within theInternational Engineering ContextsQuestions ConferencePlease discuss your thoughts on the Career-Life Balance session

Conference Session

Study Abroad Experiences Intl Div Tech Session 9

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Yanjun Yan, Western Carolina University; Nelson A. Granda Marulanda, Western Carolina University; B. David Tyler, Western Carolina University; Hugh Jack P. Eng. P.E., Western Carolina University; Lauren R. Bishop, Western Carolina University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

International

communication to otherwise gain access to. During this trip I found myselfasking many times, why can we not do this in the U.S.? Why do I not see these systems in place inmy home country?”Some students who went to Japan said,“In America, it’s all based on the “what can you do for me?” mentality whereas Japan is about“what can we do for each other?” or “how will this reflect on my company?” I would like totake this mentality into account going further in my career when I create new connections, inbusiness as well as life. For example, after I graduate, I would like to create my own practiceand invite others in my industry to help me grow. When I meet with the heads of companies whowould supply me, I will approach them with the collective mentality that

Conference Session

Engineering Accreditation Around the World

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Florida Atlantic University; Gisela Coto Quintana; Jaime Salazar, Ibero-American Association of Engineering Education (ASIBEI); Jorge Ignacio Velez Munera, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, ACOFI

Tagged Divisions

International

?Brainstorming As a result of the pre-conference workshop, it was proposed that from the Turabo Declaration acommittee be created to develop the accreditation theme and strategies in LACCEI. A taskforceof 21 professionals, including deans, authorities and representatives of careers of Engineeringdisciplines, organizations and agencies of accreditation agencies from Latin American andCaribbean countries.The taskforce decided that one of the first objectives should be to have conceptual clarity anddefine the principles over which the system or systems will be developed, and determine whatthe final outcomes should be.With this objective in the taskforce defined the following:VisionTo produce engineers for the Americas that are creative, ethical, flexible

Conference Session

Case Studies & Engineering Education Around the Globe

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adnan Zahed; Abdullah Bafail; Reda Abdulaal; Ali Al-Bahi

Tagged Divisions

International

quality of life. 4. Cultures vary in their avoidance of uncertainty or unknown matters creating different rituals and having different approaches to formality, legal and religious requirements and tolerance for ambiguity. In cultures with high uncertainty avoidance, businesses have more formal rules and require longer career commitments. They expect structure in organizations, institutions and relationships to help make events interpretable and predictable. Teachers are expected to be the experts who know the answers and it is expected that the teachers will sometimes speak in a cryptic language that excludes Page

Conference Session

Engineering Education in the Mid-East / Asia

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Paul Stanton, United States Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

International

goals and that the courses within the curriculum are tied together into acoherent whole. ABET defines program objectives as “broad statements that describe the career andprofessional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve”1 and outcomesas “statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time ofgraduation.”1 These goals must be developed and shaped to meet the needs of the institution’sconstituency. Thinking in these terms from the context of a developing nation requires theprogram administration and mentors to analyze what the developing nation needs from itsgraduates. After four years at the institution what should a student be able to accomplish andhow should a student

Conference Session

International Engineering Education I

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

M.P. Sharma, University of Wyoming

Tagged Divisions

International

enrolled 14.The good news for departments seeking to maximize the number of U.S. citizens in their graduate programs is thatthe drop in foreign applications has been offset at many universities by rising demand from domestic students. AtDuke, for example, the number of domestic applications for graduate programs hit a 10-year high this year. It alsoexceeded the number of foreign applications for the first time since 2000. The University of Texas saw a similarflip-flop in the nationality of its graduate school applicants. "From my view, this is a very good thing," says LewSiegel, dean of Duke's grad school. "It means that more U.S. students are interested in STEM [science, technology,engineering, and mathematics] careers, and that's a trend we

Conference Session

Preparing Engineering Students for International Practice

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alan Parkinson, Brigham Young University

Tagged Divisions

International

beenmet. As mentioned earlier, Georgia Tech is beginning an effort in this regard.45Colleges should be proactive in recruiting studentsStudents are yet learning what it means, in terms of their careers, for the world to be flat. Theystill need to be convinced that a study abroad program is not just “nice,” but a critical element oftheir education. To this end, the best institutions 1) use students who have been abroad to recruitstudents, 2) use the advising process to recruit students and 3) use industrial advisory boards torecruit students. Recommendations 1 and 3 involve groups (other students, employers, successfulalumni) which are highly credible with students. Recommendation 2 encourages a student to planahead. In one instance students

Conference Session

International Research Experience, Quality Improvement, and Programs/Curriculum Around the Globe

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lorraine N. Fleming, Howard University; Jennifer O. Burrell, Howard University; Wayne Patterson, Howard University; Afiya C. Fredericks, Howard University; Mohamed F. Chouikha, Howard University

Tagged Divisions

International

Nairobi. They are fun but they also help to keep us focused which is good.”A student in the Philippines described the positive impact the research abroad program hadrelatively early on. The student says, “so this research is really making an impression on me, I am now eager for classes to resume in the fall and have a clear view of the technical electives I need to take to pursue my career goals. I am flooded with ideas for the direction of my project and am excited to confirm that this will be my senior project! I am currently in the process of outlining my paper and creating a benchmark for the tests I will run to complete my short-term project.”Being engaged in research served as a motivator for some

Conference Session

Innovative Learning, Comparative Learning Analysis, and Lessons Learned

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jan Helge Bohn, Virginia Tech; Manfred J. Hampe, Technische Universität Darmstadt

Tagged Divisions

International

realization that asignificant overhaul of their curriculum was needed. It was time to replace drafting tables withCAD, it was time to integrate electrical engineering into machine elements in the form ofmechatronics, and it was time to introduce teamwork into the curriculum. The old GermanDiplom Ingenieur degree program was in need of renovation. As was the norm across Germany,this five-year program started with a two-year of science fundamentals taught by otherdepartments. Students were disengaged and could not see how this material was related to theirfuture careers, and the dropout rate routinely exceeded 50% during that phase. If they survivedthese first two years, they faced a sequence of three annual individual efforts: a 200+ hour designpaper