Conference Session

International Engineering Education I - Poster Session

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Janak Dave, University of Cincinnati; Janet Dong, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

International

© American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 Design–Build–Test BUV–A Senior Capstone Design ProjectAbstractStudents working toward baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology at theUniversity of Cincinnati are required to complete a “Design, Build, and Test” Senior CapstoneDesign Project. One of these capstone design projects was to build a Basic Utility Vehicle(BUV). It was geared to meet the needs of developing countries for an affordable transportation.BUV competition is sponsored by IAT–Institute for Affordable Transportation, a non-profitorganization in Indianapolis, IN. IAT's mission is to improve the living standards and enableeconomic growth in the developing world by

Conference Session

Building Knowledge Based Economies: the Role of Industry-University-Government Partnerships

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aaron Ball, Western Carolina University; Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2007-1528: A COLLABORATIVEUNIVERSITY-COLLEGE-INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGYTRANSFER PROJECTAaron Ball, Western Carolina University Dr. Ball is an Associate Professor of Engineering and Technology within the Kimmel School at Western Carolina University. Dr. Ball served as the PI on three year funded project by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to help develop a new product with the collaboration of a College-Industry-Government partnership.Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University Dr. Dunlap is Professor of Engineering and Technology within the Kimmel School and has the honor of serving as the Director for the Kimmel School and Associate Dean for the College of Applied Sciences at Western

Conference Session

International Distance & Service Learning for Engineers- Discussion on Best Practices

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chris Swan, Tufts University; David Gute, Tufts University; Douglas Matson, Tufts University; John Durant, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2007-1294: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS ANDENGINEERING EDUCATION: THE ADVISOR'S VIEWPOINTChris Swan, Tufts University Dr. Swan is an Associate Professor in and current chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Tufts University. His current interests are the reuse of recovered or recyclable materials and sustainable construction.David Gute, Tufts University Dr. Gute is an Associate Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Tufts university. He has traveled numerous times with the teams who have gone to Ghana. His research interests are in occupational and environmental health.Douglas Matson, Tufts University Dr. Matson is an

Conference Session

Preparing Engineering Students for International Practice

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bahman Motlagh, University of Central Florida; Michele Shahir-Motlagh, Harcourt School Publishers; Alireza Rahrooh, University of Central Florida

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2007-1113: CRAFTING AN INTERNATIONAL ROAD MAP TO GLOBALLEARNING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENTBahman Motlagh, University of Central Florida Bahman S. Motlagh is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida and the Program Coordinator for Information System Technology program. He received his B.S. from Istanbul Academy of Sciences, M.S.Cp.E, and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Engineering from the University of Central Florida, in 1993 and 1997, respectively. He is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), and senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has served as Chairman of the IEEE Cape Canaveral section and is currently

Conference Session

Educating Graduates in Engineering For A Flat World

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Zenaida Otero Gephardt, Rowan University; Joshua R. Wyrick, Rowan University; Dustin M. Kuzan, Rowan University; Carolyn D. Braun, Rowan University; Jared S. Krause, Rowan University; David M. Santino, Rowan University; Mary E. Wellspeak, Rowan University

Tagged Divisions

International

service-learning projects offer students an opportunity to experience first handthe application of technology within the framework of cultural dynamics to benefit acommunity. International hands-on experiences play a key role in the development of futureglobal engineers who can navigate the complexities of global market forces. These engineershave a better understanding of the global community and the role of engineers in improvingthe quality of life for the world’s people. Integration of the local community in projectdesign, development and implementation results in a more sustainable solution with theneeds of the community at the forefront. Students benefit from this integration by gaining abetter understanding of the community and its culture

Conference Session

Educating Graduates in Engineering For A Flat World / International Engineering Education II

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Olivia Dees, Middle Tennessee State University; Saeed Foroudastan, Middle Tennessee State University

Tagged Divisions

International

for Engineering Education, 2007 Solar Energy: Innovative, Applied Research Projects for the Sustainability of Developing CountriesAbstractRenewable energy is becoming a more popular alternative to traditional energy sources due toissues concerning national security and the environment. Solar technologies are among manyother products that are being created within the renewable energy sector on an unprecedentedscale. In particular, solar energy is shown to be an ideal power source for the sustainability ofdeveloping countries. Its ever-increasing output efficiency and usefulness for a variety oflocations make it an optimal choice for every region. Students from universities around theglobe may be taught about solar

Conference Session

International Case Studies:Collaborations, Exchanges & Interactions

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen Silliman, University of Notre Dame

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2007-657: OBSERVATIONS FROM A PROJECT TO ENCOURAGEMULTIPLE-YEAR, INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ON RESEARCH FORUNDERGRADUATESStephen Silliman, University of Notre Dame Stephen E. Silliman is a Professor of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. His primary area of research is in groundwater hydraulics and chemical transport. He has pursued research and educational programs in both Haiti and Benin (West Africa) involving both undergraduate and graduate students. Page 12.1116.1

Conference Session

International Case Studies:Collaborations, Exchanges & Interactions

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vasili Zhurakovskiy, Russian Association of Engineering Universities; Aleksey Nesterov, Russian Association of Engineering Universities

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2007-1888: THE NATIONAL PROJECT FOR THE INNOVATIVEDEVELOPMENT OF THE HIGHER ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN RUSSIAVasili Zhurakovskiy, Russian Association of Engineering Universities Prof., Dr. of Sc., Former Rector of the Rostov-on-Don Institute of the Agricultural Machinebuilding, Former 1st Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation Ministry of Education, President of the Russian Association of Engineering UniversitiesAleksey Nesterov, Russian Association of Engineering Universities Prof., Dr. of Sc., Head of Welding Department in the Moscow State University of Aviation Technology (MATI), General Director of the Russian Association of Engineering Universities

Conference Session

International Engineering Education II

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sarah Freeman, Tufts University; Jonathan Crocker, Tufts University; Chris Swan, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

International

Projects in Engineering Education: The Students’ PerspectiveAbstract:International service projects are increasingly recognized as a way to prepare students for theglobal marketplace. Project-based service learning is a valuable educational tool, and expandsupon a traditional engineering education. Accordingly, increased opportunities for this have beenprovided to students through various national and university institutions. In the past three years,students from Tufts University have initiated projects in Ecuador, El Salvador and the TibetAutonomous Region. These projects provide diverse perspectives, from which important lessonscan be extracted.This paper will address lessons learned from student-run international service

Conference Session

Engineering Without Borders: Programs Involving Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ivan Esparragoza, Pennsylvania State University; Richard Devon, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2007-1188: FORMING GLOBAL ENGINEERS: A FRESHMAN ENGINEERINGDESIGN COURSE WITH A MULTINATIONAL DESIGN PROJECT INVOLVINGLATIN AMERICAN INSTITUTIONSIvan Esparragoza, Pennsylvania State University Ivan Esparragoza is an Assistant Professor of Engineering at Penn State. His interests are in engineering design education, innovative design, and global design. He has introduced multinational design projects in a freshman introductory engineering design course in collaboration with institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of his effort to contribute to the formation of world class engineers for the Americas. He is actively involved in the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of

Conference Session

Preparing Engineers for the Global Workplace

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angela Bielefeldt, University of Colorado at Boulder; Bernard Amadei, University of Colorado at Boulder; Robyn Sandekian, University of Colorado at Boulder

Tagged Divisions

International

differentprojects for a community in Rwanda over two semesters, earning six credits that could be appliedas technical electives in their respective majors. In year two, twelve students in three teamsworked on a wastewater treatment/reuse design for a community in Sonora, Mexico. In thisformat, students earned 3 to 4 credits for the course, which counted as the capstone designexperience in their curricula. The students self-selected this international project from amongthree project options (the other two were service learning projects within the state) in thecapstone Environmental Engineering design class. Student evaluations of the EDW course arepresented and contrasted against feedback from students who worked on other service learningprojects or a

Conference Session

Global Engineering in an Interconnected World

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Natalie Mello, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; David DiBiasio, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Richard Vaz, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

International

experience is critical for continuous improvement and satisfyingaccreditation agencies. In this paper, we will focus on a particular model involving studentresearch projects in international locations, and will describe how the learning outcomes of theprogram are assessed for purposes of accreditation evidence and program improvement.At Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), about half of all engineering graduates travelinternationally to do academic work through the university’s Global Perspective Program, aprogram that grew from the project-based educational structure implemented at WPI in the early1970s. WPI sends more engineering students abroad than any other US university2. A uniqueprogram aspect is that students satisfy WPI general education

Conference Session

Technical Capacity Building for Developing Countries

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Diane Willkens, Development Finance International, Inc.; Emilio Bunge, Development Finance International Inc.

Tagged Divisions

International

inscience and technology (S&T), innovation, and productivity enhancements. In fields as diverseas education, infrastructure, and information technology, development funds are flowing toengineering expertise that can work with players in developing countries not only to supportconcrete projects, but ultimately to build the local capacity of policy-makers, educators, and theprivate sector, without which the sustainability of any progress is compromised. It is this lattereffort – the process of capacity building and the role of the engineering education sector – that isparticularly exciting for the American engineering education community.This paper will outline the confluence of economic drivers and development challenges thattoday foster

Conference Session

Preparing Engineers for the Global Workplace

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Martin Grimheden, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Tagged Divisions

International

integrator, as projectcoordinator or project manager. Mechatronics engineers also tend to work with applications, withsystems rather than components and with synthesis and design rather than analysis.In the perspective of globalization the skills required of the mechatronics engineer has to be validon an international market, and “international skills” ought to be included in the curriculum. Thisarticle presents experiences from different modes of integration of international skills intocapstone courses and curriculum in mechatronics at KTH, the Royal Institute of Technology inStockholm, Sweden.In conclusion, international collaboration in the settings described can provide experiences ofworking in a global setting in order to prepare students for

Conference Session

International Distance & Service Learning for Engineers- Discussion on Best Practices

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sandra Boschetto-Sandoval, Michigan Technological University; Ciro Sandoval, Michigan Technological University; Linda Phillips, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

International

years of project and company management experience to her professional practice-type classes. Page 12.1155.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 Pilot Collaboration and Program Development: Engineering Senior Design and Spanish for Cross- Disciplinary LiteracyIntroductionModern language scholars have begun in recent years to challenge educators to developa framework for language that, as noted by Heidi Byrnes in the Association ofDepartments of Foreign Language Bulletin, “intimately relates knowing [the language]to diverse ways of knowing” (Byrnes, 11). [1

Conference Session

International Distance & Service Learning for Engineers- Discussion on Best Practices

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kurt Paterson, Michigan Technological University; James Mihelcic, Michigan Technological University; David Watkins, Michigan Technological University; Brian Barkdoll, Michigan Technological University; Linda Phillips, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

International

engineering program at UniversidadTecnològica Boliviana in La Paz.The program commenced with a campus-wide solicitation of participation. While thisprogram is designed to draw students from two existing sustainable developmentprograms, the undergraduate program was only recently approved by the University; Page 12.375.2hence for this first year, all undergraduates could apply. Six students were notified inmid-December, and had until mid-January to accept the offer.The American student teams and one faculty member will reside in Bolivia for all of June2007. Before then, teams and projects will be developed. To aid in the first, monthlymeetings will be used

Conference Session

Engineering Education in the Arab World / Mid-East Region

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Suzanne Scott, The Petroleum Institute; Jamal Ahmad, The Petroleum Institute

Tagged Divisions

International

, decision-making,communications skills, and graphical demonstration.The authors wanted to know what our Arab engineering students knew about sustainability.What were their perceptions about their responsibilities as engineers in the 21st century? Didthey care? What’s being done to foster awareness in this part of the world? Shouldenvironmental sustainability and global stewardship be at the core of our engineering designprogram? How could we introduce our students to humanitarian engineering? The answers tothese questions along with data collected over two semesters are discussed in this paper.The Fall 2006 STEPS II project involved the development of a Plastics Recycling Plan for thePetroleum Institute, with applications locally and globally. The

Conference Session

Engineering Without Borders: Programs Involving Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Margaret Pinnell, University of Dayton; Eger Bill; Phillip Aaron, University of Dayton; Charles Schreier, University of Dayton

Tagged Divisions

International

communication, leadership and business skills.Furthermore, globalization in industry makes international experience an important, but oftendifficult to implement part of the engineering curriculum.1, 2 Experiential learning can be implemented into the engineering curriculum in a variety ofways including co-ops, internships, project and problem based learning, laboratory experiencesand service-learning. However, integration of international experience into an already packedengineering curriculum can be a little more difficult to attain. Study abroad, internationalinternships and co-ops and international service-learning represent some of the ways in whichengineering academia has provided international experiences for some of its students

Conference Session

Building Knowledge Based Economies: the Role of Industry-University-Government Partnerships

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ivan Esparragoza, Pennsylvania State University; Ramiro Jordan, ISTEC-ECE-UNM; Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Florida Atlantic University; Javier Paez Saavedra

Tagged Divisions

International

AC 2007-576: FORMING THE GLOBAL ENGINEER FOR THE AMERICAS:GLOBAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES INVOLVINGLATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEANIvan Esparragoza, Pennsylvania State University Ivan Esparragoza is an Assistant Professor of Engineering at Penn State University. His interests are in engineering design education, innovative design, and global design. He has introduced multinational design projects in a freshman introductory engineering design course in collaboration with institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of his effort to contribute to the formation of world class engineers for the Americas. He is actively involved in the Latin American and Caribbean

Conference Session

International Engineering Education I - Poster Session

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen Frempong, State University of New York

Tagged Divisions

International

, technology, benefits, and latest competitor called Infinity Worldwide Telecommunications Group of Companies (IWTGC).The “SAT3/WASC/SAFE” telecommunications projectwas historic achievement and has brought the power ofhigh-speed connectivity to link Africa to the rest of theWorld. About thirty-six countries participated in the fullyfunded $639 million project that owners have guaranteedthe ownership and management responsibilities countriesfor twenty-five years. The submarine fiber cable hasopened a new market and numerous opportunities forAfrican nations as well as international entrepreneurs.In 1993, the International TelecommunicationsUnion/Telecommunications Development Bureau(ITU/BDT) approached AT&T Submarine Systems

Conference Session

Educating Graduates in Engineering For A Flat World

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carolyn Percifield, Purdue University; David Bowker, Purdue University; Demetra Evangelou, Purdue University; Mi'schita' Henson, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

International

,” Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS), for a feasibility study;3. develop intellectual and practical tools so students can “make themselves ready” for creativity, openness to new ideas, and working effectively without enough information; and4. develop teamwork and build a community of students who will share their experiences with others when they return.The results from the student feedback were overwhelmingly positive.Introduction“Solutions of societal problems require that these [safe, reliable, and innovative] technologiesbe applied in innovative ways with consideration of cultural differences, historical perspectives,and legal and economic constraints, among other issues. … We aspire to an engineeringprofession that will

Conference Session

Collaborative & New Efforts in Engineering Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Bramhall, Sheffield Hallam University; Keith Radley, Sheffield Hallam University

Tagged Divisions

International

years experience in video and media production. His current role is to promote and facilitate innovation in the curriculum, working with teaching staff in the use of digital video and media to enhance the student learning experience. Page 12.1207.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 Promoting Learner Autonomy in EngineeringAbstractThis paper will report on a current project that is being conducted within one of the UKCentres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs): ‘The Centre for PromotingLearner Autonomy’, at Sheffield Hallam University. The paper will outline the role of

Conference Session

Engineering Without Borders: Programs Involving Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wei Lin, North Dakota State University; Frank Peloubet, North Dakota State University; Huizhen Wang, Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Yajun Zhang, Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Tagged Divisions

International

worked on various environmental projects in the US and China as design engineer and project manager. He serves as the faculty advisor for American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environment Federation (WEF) Student Chapter at NDSU.Frank Peloubet, North Dakota State University Francis (Frank) H. Peloubet is an adjunct professor and guest lecturer with the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Department of Civil Engineering. Frank teaches University Studies/Skills for Academic Success, Introduction to Civil Engineering, Surveying, Fluid Mechanics, and Capstone Senior Design. His research interests are in the areas of transportation and environmental engineering. Frank holds a Master

Conference Session

Preparing Engineering Students for International Practice

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alan Parkinson, Brigham Young University

Tagged Divisions

International

more comfortable formatfor some students but less immersion in the culture.Partner Sub-contractThe home university partners with an abroad university and contracts for courses to be taught tostudents of the home university (usually in English). Students may live on-campus. Unlike anexchange program, parity of exchange does not have to be maintained.Project-based Learning/Service LearningStudents travel abroad and are immersed in another culture via a project that connects technologywith the abroad society. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is perhaps the leader in this typeof format. There has also been growing interest in programs such as Engineers Without Borders,which provide service learning via humanitarian projects.Research AbroadA

Conference Session

International Case Studies:Collaborations, Exchanges & Interactions

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alec Simcock, Victoria University; Robert ives, Victoria University; Paul Bronson, Victoria University; Charles Mphande, Victoria University; Juan SHI, Victoria University

Tagged Divisions

International

staff in each of the designteams, and were open to all staff interested in PBL across the university. A challenge presentedto all those delivering the training sessions was to simultaneously satisfy both those with regularattendance and those with no prior knowledge of PBL.From July 24th to 28th 2006 Associate Professor Moesby delivered a PBL based workshop “Pre-planning for a change towards Project Oriented Problem Based Learning (POPBL)”. It hadoriginally been intended that this workshop be conducted during December 2005, but itspostponement was necessary because of staff workloads and other commitments at that time.Although delayed until after the completion of the first semester of PBL based program delivery,this workshop again proved to be

Conference Session

Global Engineering in an Interconnected World

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Pedro Gazmuri, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; Gonzalo Pizarro, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; Jose Bilbao, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Tagged Divisions

International

obtained in 2003 the substantial equivalence certification from ABET, for the curricularprograms in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, ComputerScience Engineering and Chemical Engineering. This is the first Engineering School in Chile andthe second in Latin America in obtaining this recognition.Despite this encouraging situation, the School decided two years ago, to start a deep curricularrevision process. One of the triggering facts for this decision was the award of public funding(project MECEUP UCH0403, www.reing.cl), in order to develop a joint initiative with ourcolleagues from Universidad de Chile. Its objective in short, was to do a thorough analysis of themethodologies that are been used internationally for

Conference Session

International Case Studies:Collaborations, Exchanges & Interactions

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joerg Mossbrucker, Milwaukee School of Engineering; Stephen Williams, Milwaukee School of Engineering; Edward Chandler, Milwaukee School of Engineering; Holger Dahms, Lübeck University of Applied Sciences; Owe Petersen, Milwaukee School of Engineering; Jens Thiedke, Lübeck University of Applied Sciences

Tagged Divisions

International

Applied Sciences the MSOE faculty generally teach a shortintensive 2 week course at the end of the spring semester. An appropriate number of credits andassociated grade are given and entered on both university transcripts. The Lübeck universityfaculty visit MSOE in the fall quarter to participate in the project defense of their own studentswho perform their Diplom Arbeit (senior thesis project) at a company generally in theMilwaukee region. During the visit the Lübeck faculty also provide a series of special topiclectures in various courses depending on the expertise of the faculty member.The benefits of the faculty exchange are many. Not just does the experience foster a strongerbond to the partner abroad, but the presence of the faculty serves

Conference Session

International Distance & Service Learning for Engineers- Discussion on Best Practices

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Keshav Varde, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Tagged Divisions

International

in their performance was larger than the campus students. 2. Self-discipline and time management seemed to be some of the major factors contributing to larger standard deviation in various performance categories. 3. The top three quartile of AL students were as well educated and had almost equal learning experience with their counterparts but the last quartile of AL students struggled more than the campus students. 4. Both the groups were well-equipped to handle technology, including the use of computer software to do projects and assignments. 5. On average, the instructor had to devote much more time to AL students’ learning and comprehension than the campus students.This paper discusses

Conference Session

Technical Capacity Building for Developing Countries

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Russel Jones, World Expertise LLC

Tagged Divisions

International

localemployees available; effective utilization of foreign aid funds, and providing a legacy ofappropriate infrastructure projects and technically competent people to operate andmaintain them; and small business startups by technically competent entrepreneurs.Capacity building can be defined as follows:Capacity building is a dedication to the strengthening of economies, governments,institutions and individuals through education, training, mentoring, and the infusion ofresources. Capacity building aims at developing secure, stable, and sustainablestructures, systems and organizations, with a particular emphasis on using motivationand inspiration for people to improve their lives.In the global economy of the 21st Century, engineers play a key role in

Conference Session

Global Engineering in an Interconnected World

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cesar Guerrero, University of South Florida; Miguel Labrador, University of South Florida; Rafael Perez, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

International

and Engineering in 1983, Dr. Perez worked as Project Manager with Westinghouse International Company. His research interests are in artificial intelligence, neural networks and genetic algorithms. Dr. Perez also has served as Coordinator for the IEEE Computer Society Latin America Distinguished Visitor's Program, Program Evaluator for the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, and Mentor for McNair Scholar's Program for Underrepresented minorities. Page 12.674.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 Enhancing the Global Perspective of REU Site