Collaborative Research: Assessing the Spectrum of International Undergraduate Engineering Educational Experiences

这个工程教育研究项目将调查工程本科学生培养全球能力的经验类型。由于全球化和技术已经使世界“扁平化”，因此越来越需要工程专业的学生能够在日益国际化的环境中工作。包括调查和访谈在内的各种手段将帮助研究团队了解学生可获得的经验范围，以及哪种类型的经验最能培养全球竞争力。这个项目更广泛的意义和重要性将是告知工程学位课程和大学管理人员关于发展国际能力的选择范围。由于这样的经验越来越重要，但潜在的昂贵，这样的见解有可能为程序的开发和进化提供信息。本研究的结果虽然集中在工程领域，但也可以推广到其他STEM领域。该项目与NSF的战略目标重叠，即通过培养具有新能力和专业知识的工程人才来改变前沿。此外，NSF为社会创新的目标是通过创造对社会有用的结果和研究，为教育政策和实践提供信息。

This engineering education research project will investigate the types of experiences that undergraduate engineering students have to develop global competencies. Since globalization and technology have "flattened" the world there is an increasing need for engineering students to be able to work in an environment that is increasingly international. A variety of means, including surveys and interviews, will help the research team understand the range of experiences available to students, as well as what types of experiences best foster global competencies.The broader significance and importance of this project will be to inform engineering degree programs and university administrators about the range of options available to develop international competencies. Since such experiences are increasingly important yet potentially expensive, such insights have the potential to inform program development and evolution. The results of this study, while focusing on engineering, can be generalized to other STEM fields. This project overlaps with NSF's strategic goals of transforming the frontiers through preparation of an engineering workforce with new capabilities and expertise. Additionally NSF's goal of innovating for society is enabled by creating results and research that are useful for society by informing educational policy and practices.