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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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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WPI’s Global Perspective Program:Not your typical study abroad
Natalie A. MelloDirector of Global Operations,
Interdisciplinary and Global Studies
Division
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
One way to prepare students for the world is to put them in the world.
Opportunities to fulfill degree required projects throughout the world.
Nancy, France…San José, Costa Rica…San Juan, Puerto Rico…Shanghai, PRC…Venice, Italy…
Windhoek, Namibia…Wuhan, PRC
Bang
kok,
Thail
and…
Buda
pest,
Hun
gary
…Cap
e
Town,
Sou
th A
frica
…
Copen
hage
n, D
enmar
k…
Daegu
, Kor
eaEdm
onton, Canada…
Hong Kong…Ifrane, M
orocco…
Limerick, Ireland…
London, United Kingdom…
Melbourne, Australia
Students & faculty live on site for 2 months while
solving open ended problems that benefit the
local community.
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
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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
At WPI, all students have to complete three projects:
• The Project in the Humanities and Arts
• The Interdisciplinary Project – not related to your major (IQP)
• The Discipline Specific, Technical Project – definitely related to your Major (MQP)
Students have completed projects in the Humanities and Arts in
United Kingdom• History, Drama, Music or
LiteratureSpain• Spanish Language, Culture
or LiteratureGermany • German Language, Culture
or LiteratureMorocco• Islamic Studies Morocco
Established sites to complete the Interdisciplinary Project
BangkokBostonCape TownCopenhagenHong KongLondon (2)
Melbourne (2)San José San Juan VeniceWorcester (3)WashingtonWindhoek
Klong Tuey, Bangkok
What is an Interdisciplinary Project?
• Done in teams• Independent from
the student’s major• Equivalent in credit
to 3 courses• Sponsored by an
outside agency• Open ended and
real
Venice, Italy
Examples of Interdisciplinary ProjectsIn 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.
Windhoek, Namibia
Students can complete their technical projects (MQP) at these sites
• 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
(major dependent: not all sites open to every major)
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
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)
Can projects happen elsewhere?Individually Sponsored Residential Projects
Work with a faculty advisor to complete the process
Buenos Aires, ArgentinaNSF Station, AntarcticaColombo, Sri LankaTurks & CaicosGothenberg, SwedenTortolla, BVI
Sydney, AustraliaRome, ItalySt. Croix, USVIGreenwich, UKIstanbul, TurkeyTaipei, Taiwan
Typical WPI Student’s Academic Year1 semester = 2 terms
1 term = 7 weeks6 courses / semester
3 courses / term
A Term B Term C Term D Term
Intro Statics
Differ. Equations
Anatomy
Principles of EE
Fluid Mechanics
Project = 3 courses
Project in Bangkok
Soc.Sci. Methods
Intro Art History
Calc IV
Gen. Physics
Proposal
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
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
WPI…All Around the World,Preparing Students for Life!
www.wpi.edu/+global