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WPI’s Global Perspective Program: Not your typical study abroad

WPI’s Global Perspective Program: Not your typical study abroad. Natalie A. Mello Director of Global Operations, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division. Educational Objectives. Open-ended, integrative problem solving Multidisciplinary teamwork Independent learning

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WPI’s Global Perspective Program: Not your typical study abroad

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  1. WPI’s Global Perspective Program:Not your typical study abroad Natalie A. Mello Director of Global Operations, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division

  2. Educational Objectives Open-ended, integrative problem solving Multidisciplinary teamwork Independent learning Written & verbal communication Professional and personal growth Making connections: society and technology classroom and real world work, cultures and communities Switzerland

  3. One way to prepare students for the world is to put them in the world. Students & faculty live on site for 2 months while solving open ended problems that benefit the local community. Edmonton, Canada… Hong Kong…Ifrane, Morocco… Limerick, Ireland… London, United Kingdom… Melbourne, Australia Bangkok, Thailand…Budapest, Hungary…Cape Town, South Africa…Copenhagen, Denmark…Daegu, Korea Nancy, France…San José, Costa Rica…San Juan, Puerto Rico…Shanghai, PRC…Venice, Italy… Windhoek, Namibia…Wuhan, PRC Opportunities to fulfill degree required projects throughout the world.

  4. Growth of the Global Perspective Program Over 6800 students off-campus since 1974 Class of 2008 – 70% of graduates had an off-campus experience –52% of graduates had an international experience

  5. 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

  6. At WPI, all students have to complete three projects: • The Project in theHumanities and Arts • TheInterdisciplinaryProject – not related to your major (IQP) • The Discipline Specific,TechnicalProject – definitely related to your Major (MQP)

  7. Students have completed projects in the Humanities and Arts in United Kingdom • History, Drama, Music or Literature Spain • Spanish Language, Culture or Literature Germany • German Language, Culture or Literature Morocco • Islamic Studies Morocco

  8. Bangkok Boston Cape Town Copenhagen Hong Kong London (2) Established sites to complete the Interdisciplinary Project Melbourne (2) San José San Juan Venice Worcester (3) Washington Windhoek Klong Tuey, Bangkok

  9. Done in teams Independent from the student’s major Equivalent in credit to 3 courses Sponsored by an outside agency Open ended and real What is an Interdisciplinary Project? Venice, Italy

  10. In Namibia WPI students worked with a local community to design better insulation for shanty towns to increase the local standard of living. A WPI student team introduced solar power to an indigenous population in Thailand where there had never been electricity before. In DC students worked with the CPSC to study the dangers of multipurpose infant devices. Examples of Interdisciplinary Projects Windhoek, Namibia

  11. Limerick, Ireland Lincoln Labs, Lexington, MA Edmonton, Canada Budapest, Hungary Wuhan, PRC Daegu, S. Korea Nancy, France Wall Street, NY Silicon Valley, CA Gallo Wineries in Modesto, CA Students can complete their technical projects (MQP) at these sites (major dependent: not all sites open to every major)

  12. What is the MQP? The Major Qualifying Project • Senior thesis or design project • Equivalent in credit to 3 courses • Done in small teams under faculty guidance • Analysis, design, synthesis, realization • Equivalent to a first professional experience

  13. Examples of Off-Campus MQPs • Remote surveillance system over GSM network (Internet Control Systems, Limerick) • Improving Risk Reporting (Lehman Brothers, Wall St.) • Implementing Peer-to-Peer Web Services using Skype (eBay, Silicon Valley) • Alginate Polymers for Drug Delivery (ENSIC, Nancy, France)

  14. Can projects happen elsewhere? Individually Sponsored Residential ProjectsWork with a faculty advisor to complete the process Sydney, Australia Rome, Italy St. Croix, USVI Greenwich, UK Istanbul, Turkey Taipei, Taiwan Buenos Aires, Argentina NSF Station, Antarctica Colombo, Sri Lanka Turks & Caicos Gothenberg, Sweden Tortolla, BVI

  15. Typical WPI Student’s Academic Year 1 semester = 2 terms 1 term = 7 weeks 6 courses / semester 3 courses / term B Term C Term D Term A Term Intro Art History Intro Statics Anatomy Project in Bangkok Differ. Equations Principles of EE Calc IV Fluid Mechanics Gen. Physics Soc.Sci. Methods Proposal Project = 3 courses

  16. WPI is a leader in health & safety in education abroad Aggressive Risk Management • Philosophical Approach Identify, Analyze, Manage Risks • Practical Approach Tailored Program for each Off-Campus Site • Goal To Protect the Students, Advisors, the Program and WPI

  17. WPI Global Perspective Program • “Project Centers” located around the globe • Not an exchange or internship or coursework • Students and faculty advisors live and work on-site for two months • Real-world projects for local agencies solving real needs • 70% of projects done at Project Centers Bangkok, Thailand Venice, Italy

  18. WPI…All Around the World, Preparing Students for Life! www.wpi.edu/+global

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