Purdue international capstone

This international, final-year undergraduate capstone project brings together students from different institutions.

Context

  • Faculty/School: School of Engineering Technology, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, USA
  • Year level: Undergraduate
  • Curricular/or co-curricular: Curricular

Description

This international, final-year undergraduate capstone project brings together students from the host institution in the U.S. and from an overseas institution (e.g., an institution in Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, or Peru). The student team works on an industry sponsored, multi-disciplinary project that explicitly appreciates the cultural dimensions of the work. The project topic is proposed by a company with a presence both in the U.S. and in proximity to the foreign institution. Students use electronic tools to communicate. Two exchange trips are also made, bringing team members to the respective foreign institution.

How does this program support IoC aims?

The industry-sponsored nature of this project provides the opportunity for professionally relevant experience. Having students work in cross-national groups provides both necessary interaction and explicit focus on cross-cultural perspectives. The global position of the industry partner requires that students consider the topic as it might suit multiple contexts.

This program aims to provide a sustainable global team experience, helping students develop global awareness, e.g., of what collaboration involves on an international scale and what being a “global engineer” would comprise.

Considerations for implementation

Alignment of the two curricula and the academic schedules of the two institutions may be a challenge. The conference paper below suggests starting with a collaboration of only two institutions. It also states, “Curriculum integration is a challenge and requires willing partners and some flexibility in both timing and learning outcomes for the projects to be undertaken”.

Also, not all students are able to participate in the physical exchange. However, all students can benefit from the collaboration that takes place through the project and it might be suitable to implement a similar program without the exchange component.

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