The Rising Sophomore Abroad Program: Early Experiential Learning in Global Engineering
Academic Article
Overview
Additional Document Info
Other
View All
Overview
abstract
Multiple reports suggest that future engineering work will be conducted by globally diverse teams for globally diverse customers. Despite the demonstrated benefits of study abroad opportunities to develop such global competencies, undergraduate engineers participate at low rates. The Rising Sophomore Abroad Program presented in this paper describes an integrated class experience combined with an international field trip that has experienced rapid growth over the past few years and effectively scaled up to enroll 135 students in the 2017 program (8% of the incoming first year engineering cohort). Program evaluation demonstrates that students achieved a range of global learning outcomes in both the class as well as the short-term study abroad module, and this blended approach may overcome some of the deficiencies of short-term programs while promoting future international engagement among undergraduate engineers. We outline unique program elements that other institutions might implement as they seek to expand students international opportunities.