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Leveraging international academic partnerships for the design of a collaborative sustainability-focused graduate civil engineering program

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

International Division (INTL) Technical Session #2: Global Engagement

Tagged Division

International Division (INTL)

Page Count

14

DOI

10.18260/1-2--43466

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/43466

Download Count

194

Paper Authors

biography

Seth D. Mallett Metropolitan State University of Denver

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Assistant Professor

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biography

Jeno Balogh Ph.D. Metropolitan State University of Denver

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Professor, Sustainable Systems Engineering Program Director

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biography

Marcus Juby University of Pécs, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

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Zoltan Orban University of Pecs Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

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Director of Structural Diangostics and Analysis Research Group

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Abstract

Amid decreasing undergraduate university enrollment, development of highly applicable and in-demand engineering specialty programs stands as one possible technique for increasing program relevancy and appeal for potential students. Furthermore, with the growing awareness for the need for sustainable and resilient infrastructure solutions to mitigate climate change effects and energy crisis demands, the genesis of sustainability-focused civil engineering programs could fulfill the needs of both universities and society. Within this paper, the authors document their methodology for the joint design of a graduate-level specialist training program at the University of Pécs as well as a graduate certificate at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, both entitled Sustainability Engineering for the Built Environment. To note, this work builds upon a previous partnership between the two universities in the establishment of an Architecture Minor at MSU Denver that has been in successful operation for over 8 years. Within this paper, the motivations for spawning the two collaborative programs are expanded upon, followed by a detailed comparative analysis of both program’s requirements and constraints. Of critical importance, the authors share their process of forming a cooperative program under which both universities can most efficiently organize and operate their individual academic programs. In particular, the program design includes the formation of a lecturer pool, whereby faculty expertise can be matched with specific course modules. The program plans to utilize a “no travel”, synchronous online platform for those distant learning modules. In terms of curriculum, a common core of courses is specified as well as a differentiated set of courses to satisfy the individual requirements of both universities. In conclusion, the expected benefits, challenges, and long-term visions of both programs are discussed, and throughout the paper, the authors share their obstacles and successes they encountered during the design process.

Mallett, S. D., & Balogh, J., & Juby, M., & Orban, Z. (2023, June), Leveraging international academic partnerships for the design of a collaborative sustainability-focused graduate civil engineering program Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43466

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