International Research and Education in Engineering (IREE) − Ideas for the Next Phase −

1. International Research and Education in Engineering(IREE)− Ideas for the Next Phase − Win Aung Chair, NSF/ENG IREE Working Group Division of Engineering Education and Centers National Science Foundation Arlington, VA NSF Engineering Awardees Conference Reston, Virginia January 31 – February 2, 2010

2. IREE Objectives • Enhance international perspective for U.S. early-career faculty and students • Leverage international partnerships to enhance education and research innovations in U.S. Directorate for Engineering

3. Future Needs • Monitor students activities while overseas; • Incorporate special effort to encourage participation by women and underrepresented minorities; and • Engage students in research after their return from their foreign assignments. Directorate for Engineering

4. Pre-Trip Orientation Program • On-campus pre-trip orientation program that will: • Use a curriculum with emphasis on culture; history and languages; • Introduce research and education systems, technology innovation emphases, etc., in the destination country; • 4. Acquaint students with life in the destination • countries; and • 5. Enhance students’ familiarity with the hosts • and their laboratory facilities. Directorate for Engineering

5. Monitoring of Future IREE • Research Accomplishments • Program of research carried out during international research experience • How the work on-site is related to the work of the current NSF award • General interaction between researcher and host laboratory • Research accomplishments during the trip • Relevant schedule, if applicable • Graphical highlights Directorate for Engineering

6. Future IREE • National program of recruitment of students through selected partner universities • On-campus program coupled with a research abroad experience to prepare cohorts of students for assignment abroad • Use of curriculum that includes focus on culture, history and languages, research and education systems, and technology innovation emphases, as may be applicable • Concern with ethics in engineering, women and underrepresented minorities, students from academic institutions where research programs are limited Directorate for Engineering

7. Partner Universities • Recruit students • Design high quality pre-trip on-site program • Conduct pre-trip on-site program for students • Monitor student progress and carry out supervisory visit to foreign laboratory • Obtain written progress reports from students • Supervise progress of students and monitor them for the duration of their stay abroad • Schedule debriefing seminar by students • Coordinate preparation of final trip reports by students and submit to NSF • Submit annual and final reports to NSF Directorate for Engineering

8. U.S. Program • PI with experience in international cooperation who has ongoing engagement with foreign counterparts in related research areas • PI with high quality program in research and education with international cooperation as an integral component • Well-thought out plan to recruit students • Inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities • Inclusion of mentorship and training to prepare students for assignment abroad • Judiciously pre-designed program of trans-national activities with participation by multiple institutions Directorate for Engineering

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10. Foreign Program • Featuring laboratory with high quality ongoing research and education activities • Has Strong support from foreign PI(s) and his/her university administration • Is part of an agreed upon, judiciously pre- designed program of ongoing collaboration • Research activities complements the U.S. program Directorate for Engineering

11. Pre-Trip Program • Why globalize engineering education; the Global Engineer • Research abroad in the context of globalization of engineering education • Research abroad vs. study abroad: recent trends • Best practices from the NSF IREE pilot program • Orientation on culture, history, language of destination country or region • Work ethics and professional practices with respect to cultural practices • Health, medical care and emergency, safety and insurance; how to guard against crime • Logistics during travel in destination country and region • Housing, foreign laws you should know about; keeping in touch with home institution and family • Opportunities for exploration, cultural and personal enrichment in and around the foreign institution • Networking and social activities Directorate for Engineering

12. Phase II IREE: IREE - 2010 • Follows on: • Phase I IREE: IREE-2006 and IREE-2007 • IREE conferences of 2007 and 2008 • 2008 National Summit Meeting on the Globalization of Engineering Education • 2008 Evaluation Study of IREE by STPI • Seeks to test some ideas and potential approaches that will be useful for a Phase III IREE program at NSF Directorate for Engineering

13. IREE - 2010 • Involves: • Recruitment, placement and orientation for about 50 students for an engineering research experience in Shanghai region of China • Three types of orientations: • U.S.-based • China-based • cyber-based • Pre- and post-surveys to assess the economic and professional impact of each Directorate for Engineering

14. IREE - 2010 • Also involves research experience in the Shanghai region under three placement models: • IREE grantees placement facilitated by Purdue U. • IREE grantees who conduct research at a group location; and • Other NSF (non-IREE) grantees whose international placement is facilitated by Purdue U. • Upon grantees’ return, Purdue will host a re-entry conference for participants to gain feedback about their international experience. Directorate for Engineering

15. IREE - 2010 • Seeks to answer the questions: • Are face-to-face orientations better than online orientations? • If so, are face-to-face orientations most effective when offered in the U.S. or in the host country? • How can NSF strike a balance between affordably increasing the scale of its international education/research programs while retaining the quality of each grantee’s research/education experience? Directorate for Engineering

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17. IREE - 2010 • Orientation: • Purdue US-based: May 10-21, 2010 • Shanghai China-based: May 10-21, 2010 • On-line Orientation will occur during March-May 2010. • Research placement: • May 24 - Aug 7 (20 students from Purdue Orientation) • May 31 - Aug 14 (20 students from Shanghai Orientation) • Window of May 10 - Aug 14 (10 students from On-line Orientation) Directorate for Engineering

18. Please Send Comments to: Win Aung waung@nsf.gov 703-292-5341 Thank You! Directorate for Engineering