Developing Globally-Minded Engineers through Education and Experience

1. Developing Globally-Minded Engineers through Education and Experience: An Examination of International Co-op/Internship Program Models A CED Presentation ASEE National Conference June 21, 2006 Chicago, IL

2. Panelists Debbie Pearson – Assistant Director, Cooperative Education,Georgia Tech Debbie Gulick – International Practicum Coordinator, Georgia Tech Gayle Elliott – Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati Karl Zimmer - Plant Manager, General Cable Jenny Oliver - Outbound Program Manager, IAESTE United States

3. The Need for Work Abroad Programs

4. Benefits for Students Industry Schools Profession

5. Benefits for Students • Prepare for global economy • Master a foreign language • Enhance employability upon graduation • Gain vital cross-cultural exposure • Improve communication skills • Grow personally and socially • Expand engineering skills and ability to practice discipline in other cultures

6. Benefits for Universities • Gain world-wide visibility • Increase the flow of technology between the institution and industry • Foster students’ critical thinking skills • Offer a value-added education to attract best students • Meet ABET requirements

7. Benefits for Industry • Attract highly-motivated students • Establish ties with key universities • Gain employees with global perspective • Gain employees with language skills • Develop future leaders for your company

8. Work Abroad Programs Upgrade Entire Engineering Profession • Flexible, adaptable workforce that can respond to other cultures’ methods of analyses and problem-solving • Engineers who understand global context of economics/international commerce • Engineers who better understand global health, environmental, and security issues Resulting in . . .

9. Georgia Institute of TechnologyWork Abroad Program

10. Origins of the Work Abroad Program • International co-op • Office of International Education and the Division of Professional Practice working together • Student initiated • Informal work abroad program • The International Plan • Part of Georgia Tech’s Quality Enhancement Program http://www.oie.gatech.edu/internationalplan/ • All undergraduates enrolled in the International Plan must spend at least 6 months abroad • Need a formalized Work Abroad Program to create international work experiences

11. Goals of the Work Abroad Program • To give Georgia Tech students a global understanding in their field of study through experiential education • To provide quality international and cross-cultural experiential education for Georgia Tech students • To connect international companies and Georgia Tech students • To assist Georgia Tech students in finding satisfaction and success as a life-long, globally-minded learner

12. Design • International co-op • Single summer, semester, or year-long internship overseas • Domestic internship followed up by an international internship • Study abroad then work abroad

13. Logistics of the Program • Full-time audit credit • Visa/work permit assistance • Health and safety abroad information • Cultural information • Pre- and post-assessments

14. Challenges • Location of the Work Abroad Program on campus – centralized or decentralized • Continuous marketing and promotion of the program to students and faculty • Work abroad is labor intensive! • Financial resources • Lack of data

15. Successes • Tech has centralized the Work Abroad Program in Division of Professional Practice • Tech has set aside money for international endeavors as Tech sees the importance in an international education for students • Office of Assessment/Division of Professional Practice are working together with the Office of International Education for joint assessments

16. Funding Quality Enhancement Program (the International Plan is part of Georgia Tech’s Quality Enhancement Program). For the next five years, Georgia Tech has budgeted over $4 million for the Institute’s International Plan. The Work Abroad Program receives a portion of this funding to assist in finding international work experiences for students.

17. University of CincinnatiInternational Co-op Programs (ICP) Gayle G. Elliott, Assistant Professor Division of Professional Practice Karl Zimmer, Plant Manger General Cable, Jackson Plant

18. International Co-op Program Structure UC / ICP - five-year curriculum • One year of co-op experience in the US • German, Japanese, or Spanish language and culture preparation • Choice of international electives • Capstone six-month co-op abroad • Additional international opportunities available

19. UC Structure of ICP

20. General Cable Overview • Headquartered outside of Cincinnati, OH • World leader in manufacture of copper & aluminum wire and cable • $2 billion in sales • 20+ manufacturing facilities in N. America, Oceania, Europe, and China • 8,000 employees

21. UC – General Cable Partnership • Top ten employers • 30 students annually • Alternating terms in multiple sites • Consistent availability of candidates is key • Students willing to stay for 2+ quarters • International co-op assignments in Mexico • Two ChE’s in 2005 • Potential international assignments in France, Spain and China

22. Tips for Universities • Create a program to utilize and enhance your strengths • Offer something extra -- make it easy for employers to choose you • Expats are no longer the “norm” in business; take care of the administrative side for employers • Keep your alumni involved

23. Tips for Employers • Why not send students overseas? • While students are overseas, supervisors and colleagues help by taking time to speak their language with American students • Assess abilities and give students as much responsibility as they can handle • Don’t get pigeon-holed by students course of study

24. Why Do It (University) • Cost is less than full-time employees (with families, relocation costs, etc.) • Co-op Students can fill short-term needs • Contacts and knowledge from US assignments assist in international environment/project work • Opportunity to evaluate success in an international environment

25. Why Do It? Employer • Recruiting & Development • Especially for the top students • Culture • Transfer cultural experiences • Communication • Breakdown traditional barriers • ROI • Co-ops can be risk-takers and find the “big solutions”

26. IAESTE United States Developing Global Skills in Tomorrow’s Technical Leaders

27. Origins of IAESTE International Internship Program • Founded in 1948 at Imperial College, London • Network of 80+ countries around the world, facilitating the annual exchange of 6,000 engineering and science students • IAESTE United States Local Committees at 27 top engineering and science universities; the nations premier membership organization for internationally-minded students and professionals • IAESTE United States offers programs for technical students and professionals aimed at developing global competencies

28. Goals of the IAESTE International Internship Program 1. To provide students in higher education with international technical experience relevant to their studies • To offer employers well-qualified and motivated international interns • To develop the global skills of science and engineering students

29. Design • Reciprocal Program • Practical training providing students with hands-on experience • All internships are paid by the employer • Usually 8-12 weeks, but longer internships are available • Placements in more than 35 countries; local language knowledge is not required • Accommodation and in-country assistance provided by IAESTE Network

30. Design (Continued) • September-January: students register online • Early February: available internships are posted to registered students • Mid February: students list preferences and are nominated for internships by IAESTE United States staff • February-June: Employer final acceptance, Predeparture orientation, visa and work permits obtained, accommodation arranged, departure of students

31. Challenges • Reciprocal nature of the problem- must find domestic internships • Keeping costs low for students • The confusing and ever-changing world of visas and work permits • Off-campus location makes it difficult to provide in-person predeparture orientations

32. Successes • Local Committee students identify 75% of domestic internships, enabling more U.S. students to go abroad • Taking advantage of the IAESTE network: visa and work documentation, placing unique majors, in-country support in emergencies, arranging housing, providing local knowledge, planning cultural events for students • Increasing the number of countries receiving U.S. students by promoting non-traditional destinations

33. Funding Funding is fee-based: Outgoing-Student application fees ($35, $50) Student placement fees ($350, $500) Incoming- Employer hosting fee ($600-$1750*-depends on duration of program) *includes J-1 visa, insurance for intern

34. Conclusion • Employers increasingly require global skills • Universities with work abroad programs attract top students and prepare students to succeed in their careers • Work abroad programs follow various models but share many of the same benefits

35. Thank you! Questions?