Study Abroad

From Rodman Scholars Program

1 Engineering in [a global] Context (EigC)
- 1.1 About
- 1.2 Goals and Objectives
2 SEAS Study Abroad Web-Advisor
3 External Links

Engineering in [a global] Context (EigC)

The EigC Program, created by the Director of the Rodman Scholars Program, Dana Elzey, is a unique experience for engineering students to study abroad in the summer. In the summer of 2007, 15 UVA Engineering students accompanied Mr. Elzey on a trip to Stuttgart, Germany.

The following General Information taken directly from the EigC Program Brochure

About

The Engineering In (a global) Context course is a study abroad option designed to give engineering students an efficient, yet impactful, introduction to engineering in a foreign country. This experiential learning course immerses students in the technological, organizational and cultural contexts in which engineers are educated, work professionally and live in the host country. Through structured learning experiences in academia, industry and the culture of the host country, students are able to form frames of reference with which they can compare and contrast their own education, professional goals and opportunities, and the role of social and cultural factors. Students are then in a better position to appreciate both the differences and the similarities between their own engineering environment and that of the host country. This increased knowledge and awareness of global context will enhance the student's ability to remain competitive as a professional engineer and engage more effectively in the global engineering enterprise.

Goals and Objectives

Engineering students in the US and abroad are advancing into an increasingly global engineering enterprise. This has many implications, ranging from competitiveness and security at the national level, to opportunities for personal and professional success at the level of the individual. A new generation of graduating engineers is needed to provide leadership in identifying and developing opportunities requiring multinational collaboration. Additionally, opportunities for professional advancement in engineering will be increasingly available to those able to demonstrate the initiative and ability required to engage in the global enigineering enterprise. According to a recent report sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering, the engineer of 2020 will encounter a world which is intensely globally interconnected through economies, technology, and knowledge sharing. U.S. engineers will need to have 'value added' to be competitive and will be expected to work across cultural and linguistic boundaries. It is therefore important for educational institutions to provide increased opportunities for learning and practice of engineering in a global context.

The overall objectives of the EigC course are to:

Enable students to recognize and gain confidence in their ability to overcome cultural and other barriers to communication, exchange and collaboration, thereby enhancing their preparation for engagement in the global engineering enterprise.
Increase professionalism by increasing awareness of both the advantages and shortcomings of the student's own educational and professional experiences and opportunities.
Encourage and stimulate engineering leadership through exposure to new ideas in engineering education and professional practice, and to different priorities and attitudes about technology, and the role of organizational and cultural context.
Enable and encourage engineering students to make friends and establish professional ties with the host country, both in academic and professional contexts.

SEAS Study Abroad Web-Advisor

Created by U.Va. Engineering Students for their Engineering In Context Capstone Design Project, this is an amazing resource to facilitate study abroad. The site includes: