Internationalizing the Engineering Curriculum

Speaker:
Larry Shuman,
Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Industrial Engineering,
School of Engineering,
University of PittsburghAbstract:
Three years ago, Tom Friedman proclaimed that the "World is Flat." In doing this, Friedman delineated ten "flatteners" that converged around 2000 to both level the playing field for the design of products and services, and bring three billion new players onto the scene. Friedman, among others, emphatically proposes that it is now essential for U.S. engineering students to not only become more innovative, but equally important, learn to work collaboratively with colleagues across the globe. We have taken this message to heart and are creating innovative courses and programs to internationalize engineering education.We have done this in two ways. First by creating a series of innovative, short-term courses, and second, through a focus on sustainability, we have been able to leverage a growing relationship with a Brazilian partner to not only integrate more extensive international experiences into research and education, but to also do this at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Further, we have been able to obtain funding to do much of this. Both ways will be addressed; current achievements and future plans will be presented, and challenges will be identified and discussed.Relative to the former, we have built upon a very successful study abroad experience for rising engineering and business students that combines coursework with a two week study visit focusing on manufacturing in an international setting. Using variations of this model we have developed upper level international courses that combine study at Pitt with international field visits. Three will be described: INNOVATE (ENGR 1600) that focuses on globalization and is taught simultaneously at Pitt, Rice and Tulsa using closed circuit TV to share lectures and bring students together. During the spring break, everyone plus other students and faculty from the US and India, Japan, Singapore and China participate in the INNOVATE symposium. This year's symposium will focus on Singapore and Vietnam. EMPOWER (ENGR 1620) focuses on the development of sustainable energy in Brazil. After a preparatory series of lectures students from Pitt and other US universities visit various sites in Brazil including the University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Product Realization for Global Economies (ENGR 1610) also brings together engineering and business students to develop a product (through prototype) for Brazilians living in public housing. Students travel to Brazil during the spring break; this year they will be joined by UNICAMP students as part of a course within a course. The latter effort has been headed by our Mascaro Sustainability Initiative (MSI) whose initial focus was on sustainable water usage and green building, but has recently expanded to include other sustainability problems. MSI has enabled us to build integrated educational and research programs in sustainability with a solid international component. Funding has been received from the National Science Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT), International Research Experiences for Students (IRES), and REU programs; the US Department of Education's Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) and FIPSE-CAPES programs; and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliances (NCIIA) as well as private foundations. The interdisciplinary initiative involves faculty and students from across the University as well as international partners.

Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Evangeline Reyes