Summers by Design: An International Engineering Design Experience

Catalog description

The School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs (SEDTAPP) offers this Penn State faculty-led study abroad program. Students will practice design with international collaborators in international environments and conduct design for global markets. In addition, students will learn to function in cross-cultural engineering design teams, partnering with students from both the U.S. and other global institutions. Specific locations of study are varied, and have included San Sebastian, Spain, and Nantes, France. This study abroad program takes place at a partnering university over a two-week period at the end of May. While enrolled in the course, participants will also experience many cultural activities relevant to the part of the world in which they find themselves, including partaking in local cuisine, visiting historical landmarks, and interacting with local engineering companies. This is an ideal program for Penn State engineering students as it allows students the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program while still having time to return home to complete a summer engineering internship. The objectives of the course include identifying global engineering design problems, developing effective engineering solutions within a cultural context, evaluating engineering designs with global parameters, working with a team consisting of designers from different global backgrounds, and effectively communicating engineering designs to a cross-cultural audience. Students will be evaluated through completion of pre-departure activities, participating in a design project while abroad, and completing a final project report upon their return. The course will be offered once a year through SEDTAPP and Penn State Global Programs.