Enablers for Increasing Participation of US Students in International

Experience

Ashok Saxena

State of the College

The Global EconomyThe Global Economy

• Rapidly changing business conditions Rapidly changing business conditions characterized by new opportunities characterized by new opportunities driven by the trend toward free markets driven by the trend toward free markets every whereevery where

• Technological knowledge base and the Technological knowledge base and the ability to leverage it effectively ability to leverage it effectively will will determine how well organizations are determine how well organizations are able to sustain themselves over a long runable to sustain themselves over a long run

• Strategic partnering (global) for efficient Strategic partnering (global) for efficient delivery of goods, as opposed to vertical delivery of goods, as opposed to vertical integration, will be most important in integration, will be most important in ensuring the continued viability of an ensuring the continued viability of an engineering companyengineering company

A Flat World and the A Flat World and the Engineering ProfessionEngineering Profession

More people can telecommute to More people can telecommute to work from home which means that work from home which means that co-workers may be from anywhere co-workers may be from anywhere on the globeon the globe

More engineers will work for More engineers will work for international companies and will international companies and will have co-workers from other have co-workers from other countries and report to managers countries and report to managers from other countries or have from other countries or have direct reports who are located in direct reports who are located in other countriesother countries

•To thrive in a knowledge-based global economy requires highly knowledgeable people in specialties that are in demand

•It also requires people that can comfortably cross cultural boundaries and work productively among people from different cultures

TodayTechnology

Level

Future

Developed World

Developing World

The Landscape of Technology Manpower Space

Manpower Depth at the Technology Level

•Number of U.S. engineering students studying abroad has remained flat in recent years, even though the total number of U.S. students studying abroad has doubled over the past eight years.•Much of this is due to the perception that engineering students will get “off track” and significantly delay graduation if they study abroad. •Need programs that fit within engineering educational structure and provide credit toward the degree

Study Abroad

The contrast between the new and the old India that visibly co-exist on the streets of

its major cities is perhaps the most striking to a first time visitor.

Sampling of Student CommentsSampling of Student Comments I realize now why the Indian students in my classes think the way they do and I realize now why the Indian students in my classes think the way they do and

act like they do – they have brought their culture with them to the USact like they do – they have brought their culture with them to the US I have become more willing to talk to new people and have learned to enjoy a I have become more willing to talk to new people and have learned to enjoy a

culture much more different than here or Europe.culture much more different than here or Europe. I had my defining moment in life while in India. My life was turned up-side I had my defining moment in life while in India. My life was turned up-side

down from before I went to India, both personally and with school. I couldn’t down from before I went to India, both personally and with school. I couldn’t make decisions on what to do after graduation. My India experience made me make decisions on what to do after graduation. My India experience made me look at things differently, and it became totally clear in one moment in time look at things differently, and it became totally clear in one moment in time exactly what my priorities should be, and what direction to follow in my job life exactly what my priorities should be, and what direction to follow in my job life and my personal life. India made me realize what is truly important in life.and my personal life. India made me realize what is truly important in life.

Great program for those willing to leave their comfort zone!Great program for those willing to leave their comfort zone! My attitudes have changed. I think the biggest thing was a new appreciation My attitudes have changed. I think the biggest thing was a new appreciation

for the US’s infrastructure.for the US’s infrastructure. In India, I was constantly surprised, being surprised all the time was a good In India, I was constantly surprised, being surprised all the time was a good

experience! No amount of pre-departure information could have prepared me experience! No amount of pre-departure information could have prepared me for what was coming.for what was coming.

Being a female in India was a different experience. There was a larger Being a female in India was a different experience. There was a larger difference between men and women in India than I was used to in the US difference between men and women in India than I was used to in the US

I thought everything turned out great! The food acclimating could have been I thought everything turned out great! The food acclimating could have been better, but not that big of a deal.better, but not that big of a deal.

What is inhibiting us from involving What is inhibiting us from involving more engineering students in more engineering students in

international programs?international programs?

Export control regulations and their Export control regulations and their misplaced interpretations that limit our misplaced interpretations that limit our ability to attract research resources from ability to attract research resources from international sponsors and severely limits international sponsors and severely limits our interactions with themour interactions with them

Perception of curricular rigidity among Perception of curricular rigidity among studentsstudents

Perceptions about securityPerceptions about security Financial resourcesFinancial resources