Transcript Document 7633588

WPI’s Global
Perspective Program
Projects for Undergraduate Students
Around the World
Holly K. Ault
Assoc. Professor, ME
Center Director, Melbourne
Where in the World is WPI?
Over 30 International Project Sites on 5 Continents
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
Growth of the Global Perspective Program
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WPI has sent over 5800 students off-campus since 1974
Class of 2005 - 70% of graduates had an off-campus experience
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
So how does WPI manage to do
this?
• WPI offers opportunities to fulfill degree
requirements elsewhere in the world
• Unique curriculum and term system
• Established & Competitive Recruiting Cycles
• Established Risk Management
• Commitment to Student Centered Experience
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
At WPI, all students must
complete three projects:
• The Project in the Humanities and Arts
• The Interactive Project – not related to the
major (IQP)
• The Discipline Specific, Technical Project –
definitely related to the Major (MQP)
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
But, there is no reason students
have to stay at WPI…
• Six traditional exchange opportunities
• Three different opportunities to complete
the humanities and arts project off campus
• Fourteen locations to complete the
interactive project off campus (IQP)
• Ten different sites to complete the technical
project (MQP)
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
What is an Interactive Project?
The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP)
challenges students to address a problem that
lies at the intersection of science or
technology and societal structures or human
needs. The objective of the IQP is to enable
WPI graduates to understand, as citizens and
as professionals, how their careers will affect
the larger society of which they are part.
Generally, these projects involve some
analysis of how technology affects, and is
affected by, individuals and communities.
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
IQP Themes
•
•
•
•
Technology and Environment
Energy and Resources
Health Care and Technology
Science & Technology Policy and
Management
• Humanistic Studies of Technology
• Education in a Technological Society
• Law and Technology
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
Where have students
gone to complete the
Interactive Project?
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
Students have completed the
Interactive Project in
Bangkok,
Thailand
Hong Kong,
PRC
San Juan,
Puerto Rico
Boston, Mass.
Copenhagen,
Denmark
Washington,
DC
London, UK
Venice, Italy
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
Melbourne, Worcester,
Australia
Mass.
Windhoek,
San José,
Namibia
Costa Rica
Where can students
go to complete their
technical projects?
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
Students can complete their technical
projects at these sites
• Limerick, Ireland
• Lincoln Labs,
Lexington, MA
• Johnson Space
Flight Center, TX
• Budapest, Hungary
• The Gillette Co.,
Boston, MA
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•
•
Nancy, France
Wall Street, NY
Silicon Valley, CA
Gallo Wineries in
Modesto, CA
• Jet Propulsion Lab,
OH
(major dependent)
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
How do these projects
fit into such a tight
schedule?
In other words, if I do a project off
campus, can I still graduate in
four years?
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
Typical WPI Student’s Academic Year
1 semester = 2 terms
6 courses / semester
1 term = 7 weeks
3 courses / term
A Term
Machine Design
Linear Algebra
Art History
B Term
C Term
Fluid Mechanics
Experimentation
Advanced CAD
Soc.Sci. Methods
Proposal
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
D Term
Project in
Bangkok
Principles of EE
Physics IV
Project = 3 courses
Center
Director
Risk
Management
Team
Support Services
Student
Experience
Local
Coordinator
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
Sponsor
Liaison
Project
Preparation
Instructor
Resident
Faculty
Advisors
Orientation and
Re-Entry
Facilitator
Educational Outcomes Realized by
a Global Experience
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Solving real-world, open-ended problems
Working in teams
Improving written & verbal communication
Making connections between
– Classroom and experiential learning
– Impact of decisions of the profession on culture and
community
– Impact of culture and community on decisions of the
profession
• Professional and personal growth
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
The Students
• Leigh Duren, ME’06
– IQP, Bangkok, C term 2005
– President’s IQP Award
• Tara Barden, ME’05
– MQP, Melbourne, C term 2005
– Sandia fellowship, MS Fire Protection Eng.
• R. William Lapp, MSCS’02
– IQP, Melbourne, D term 2001
– Technical Escalation Manager, Cisco Systems
http://www.wpi.edu/+global
WPI…All Around the World,
Preparing Students for Life!
http://www.wpi.edu/+global