Purdue engineering program promotes global awareness, initiatives

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's College of Engineering is increasing its global presence through initiatives that will encourage international experiences directly related to the engineering profession as part of its educational program.

Purdue's Global Engineering Programs, created in 2005, focuses on preparing students for the global economy. The program offers new courses, integration of global perspectives into existing courses, distributed design team projects with students from international partner universities, international internships and coursework abroad.

"With our technological advances, the world has gotten smaller and smaller, and our students need to be more globally aware," said Yating Chang, assistant director of Purdue's Global Engineering Programs. "This program helps our students and it fulfills a need for our industry partners as well, because engineers who have the technical knowledge plus international experience have a greater impact on globally competitive companies."

Two international short-term course opportunities that will take place March 10-17 during Purdue's spring break are:

* Global engineering and leadership in Mexico. The program will take place at the Technologico de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. Students will have lectures, labs and assignments typical of a one-credit on-campus course. They also will visit area industrial sites, attend cultural activities, and work on design projects with students from Monterrey Tech. The program cost is $540, and the application deadline is Dec. 15. Chang is the program coordinator.

* Globalization and engineering in India. The program will take place in Bangalore, India. Participants will learn about globalization and engineering in India, specifically the role of Asia and its impact on the world economy, its political institutions and environment. Morning coursework will be followed by visits to engineering enterprises and cultural activities in the afternoon. The program cost is $1,280, and the application deadline is Dec. 15. Dale Harris, executive director of Purdue's Engineering Professional Education, is the program instructor.

Three more new offerings in summer 2007 will make five new course opportunities for Purdue engineering students this year.

"We know that students at Purdue have always received the education they need to lead as engineering professionals," said E. Daniel Hirleman, professor and the William E. and Florence E. Perry Head of the School of Mechanical Engineering and interim director of Global Engineering Programs. "Now we are transforming the Purdue student experience to ensure that the next generation will be leaders as global engineering professionals."

Those interested in participating in the upcoming educational trips or in getting more information about the program can contact Chang at (765) 496-1810, yatingchang@purdue.edu.

Writer: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, csequin@purdue.edu

Sources: Yating Chang, (765) 496-1810, yatingchang@purdue.edu

E. Daniel Hirleman, (765) 494-5688, hirleman@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Related Web sites:
Global Engineering Alliance for Research and Education (GEARE)

GEARE student organization, Purdue chapter

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