Meisen, Axel

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Engineering Conferences International

ProceedingsEnhancement of the Global Perspective forEngineering Students by Providing anInternational ExperienceEngineering Conferences International Year 2003Developing Global Perspectives forEngineering Students: A NorthAmerican ViewAxel MeisenMemorial University of NewfoundlandThis paper is posted at ECI Digital Archives.http://dc.engconfintl.org/enhancement/4    Developing Global Perspectives for Engineering Students: A North American View†  Axel Meisen, Ph.D., P.Eng., EurIng President and Vice-Chancellor Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada   North American universities have created a wide range of initiatives to develop global perspectives amongst engineering students.  Instead of providing an encyclopaedic overview of the situation in North America, this paper is written to provide the reader with a general understanding and to serve as a basis for discussing future initiatives.  The paper is divided into three main sections:  a brief introduction to Memorial University of Newfoundland (a typical comprehensive university in North America), examples of current North American approaches for developing global perspectives amongst engineering students, and suggestions for new initiatives.   Introduction to Memorial University of Newfoundland  Like many universities around the word, Memorial University reflects its surroundings and history.  Memorial University is located in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the easternmost region of the North American continent and Canada.  The distance to London, England is comparable to that to Chicago, USA.   CanadaNewfoundland and Labrador While its location is frequently thought of as far north location, the southern regions of the province and its capital city St. John’s are further south than Paris, Seattle and Vancouver.   Nevertheless, the climate can be quite harsh, being influenced by the cold Labrador Current to the east and the warm gulf stream to the south.  The Province is characterized by spectacular settings, abundant wild-life and a very small population. † Presented at “Enhancement of the Global Perspective for Engineering Students by Providing an International Experience”, Engineering Conference International, Inc., Tomar, Portugal, April 6 - 11, 2003.                                                                                               Ref: U/AM/ENGI0625.DOC.DOC (2003)   Spectacular Settings   Spectacular Settings   Area and Population23082.0357,000Germany10.5404,000Newfoundland and Labrador331.910,000,000 CanadaPeople(million)Persons / sq. kmArea(sq.km)  Newfoundland was Great Britain’s first colony and a dominion, similar to Canada, until 1949.  In that year and upon a referendum, Newfoundland joined Canada and became a province.  Its official name is now the “Province of Newfoundland and Labrador”.  The origin of Memorial University lies in the First World War, in which the Newfoundland Regiment sustained extraordinary losses in the battle of the Somme.  To commemorate and to create a living memory to this tragedy, Newfoundland founded Memorial College in 1925.  It was a university-level college where students could study for two years before transferring to a university in Great Britain or in Canada (typically Dalhousie University, McGill University or the University of Toronto).  In 1949, Memorial College was transformed into Memorial University of Newfoundland as one of the first acts of the new provincial legislature.  Its objectives were to provide educational opportunities for the citizens of the province, be a most distinguished university for its size, and to play an important role in the economic, social and cultural development of the province.  Page 2/8 Since its creation, Memorial University has undergone extraordinary growth.  Today, the university has approximately 17,000 students studying on four campuses:  two in St. John’s, in the south-eastern region of the Island of Newfoundland, one in Corner Brook (Sir Wilfred Grenfell College) on the west coast of the Island of Newfoundland, and one in Harlow, near London, Great Britain.  In addition, the university has a special language institute in St. Pierre, France (near the southern coast of the Island of Newfoundland), a state-of-the-art marine station in Gros Morne National Park (a UNESCO world heritage site) and an institute in Happy Valley / Goose Bay (Labrador) supporting research and education. Four Campuses - 17,000 studentsSir Wilfred Grenfell College, Corner BrookSt. John’sHarlow, England Arts BusinessEducationEngineering Fine ArtsHuman KineticsMaritime StudiesMedicineMusicNursingPharmacyScienceSocial WorkTechnologyMemorial UniversityMemorial University offers a comprehensive set of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Research and similar highly creative activities are becoming increasing important and are recog-nized as essential to the future economic, social and cultural prosperity of the Province.  The university’s 50,000 alumni are found throughout the world and are well recognized for their competency, hard work and engaging attitude.  Memorial University is typical amongst the majority of public universities in North America.  It serves not only regional but global needs and, like other universities, has certain distinguishing characteristics.  These characteristics are shaped by history, location and opportunities.  In Memorial University’s case, they include a broad range of marine studies (including the fishery, oceanography, ocean engineering, marine history and economics), programs facilitating the responsible production of abundant off-shore oil and gas, rural health care, genetics and genomics based on the province’s unique founder population originating from England and Ireland, and North Atlantic culture (literature, visual and performing arts) and archaeology.  In the case of engineering, Memorial University is unusual insofar that its Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science is not departmentalized and that its undergraduate programs are offered in mandatory, co-operative education mode.  Page 3/8 It is understood that the educational programs, research activities and outreach initiatives must be globally competitive and, increasingly, available by distance and via the web.   Current Approaches for Developing Global Perspectives  Since engineering is a profession that is practiced globally and the work of engineers frequently has global ramifications, North American universities have adopted a number of initiatives to develop global perspectives amongst their engineering students.  Amongst the most common ones are study abroad and exchange programs.    These programs provide excellent academic and cross-cultural experience for students.  However, the number of students travelling between pairs of universities is usually quite small and the administrative efforts to implement the programs are disproportionately high.  Another problem is the fact that most engineering programs are tightly structured and it is difficult to match them to programs at other universities.  As a result, it is difficult to sustain study abroad and exchange programs.  Current Approaches:Study Abroad – Exchange ProgramsTo overcome some of these difficulties, some universities have acquired overseas esidential study abroad programs are  residential campuses for their students.  For example, Memorial University has a campus in Harlow (United Kingdom), which can accommodate approximately fifty students and several faculty members.  Students typically go for one semester and travel widely in Europe, thereby becoming immersed in foreign cultures and practices.  Rnow fairly common for students in the arts, humanities, education and business.  They are far less common in engineering, except for engineering students who focus on courses in the complete their complementary studies requirements.  Memorial University now offers courses as part of a European Studies minor on its Harlow campus.  The courses, which deal with war, reconstruction and the European Union, are well suited to fulfill complementary studies requirements.  social sciences and humanities in order toCurrent Approaches:Study Abroad – Residential ProgramsMemorial University:Harlow Campus,Essex, UKPage 4/8 While the interest amongst engineering students in this type of opportunity is presently  partial change is already evidenced by the fact that several engineering students, who ternational work placements provide, auggestions for New Initiatives our new initiatives are suggested to foster the development of global perspectives ternationalization of Engineering Curricula ven without going abroad, engineering students can develop global perspectives if low, this will change as the advantages become better known.  Ahave international work placements, are interested in staying on the Harlow Campus and taking courses on a part-time basis.  Harlow is a global centre for research and development in the pharmaceutical and ICT industries.  The combination of practical work experience with part-time study is therefore attractive.  Inof course, another excellent opportunity for developing a global outlook amongst engineering students.  Major efforts should be made to increase such placements and to have industry remunerate them properly.  Unless this ged will not be able to participate easily in international work placements.  is done, students who are financially disadvantCurrent Approaches:International work placements S Famongst engineering students.   In Etheir curricula include international problems.  An example for students in Chemical and Mechanical Engineering is the large-scale marine transportation of natural gas.  Internationalizing Engineering Curricula: Problem SolvingGRAND BANKSLarge-scale marine transportation of compressed natural gas (CNG)       Internationalizing Engineering Curricula: Problem SolvingLarge-scale marine transportation of compressed natural gas (CNG) Page 5/8  At present, it is known that there are substantial quantise of natural gas off the coast of Newfoundland as well as in North Africa.  To take the gas to market in the United States or Europe, conventional pipelines or liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation may not be technically or financially feasible.  A potential alternative is marine transportation in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG).  Internationalizing Engineering Curricula:  CNG Transportation     Internationalizing Engineering Curricula:  CNG TransportationLoading Facilities– Gas handling systems– Storage– Public acceptance  – Compression & chilling– Loading lines– Shuttle loading systemsReceiving Facilities– Flowlines  CNG transportation poses significant engineering design challenges, including vessel design, shipboard storage, loading and off-loading and on-shore storage.  The acceptance by international certification agencies and the public are also required.  These requirements can only be fulfilled if the engineer understands the environment within which decisions are made.  The international experience can be further enhanced if the engineering students from different university are collaborating in the design study.  At present, discussions are underway between Memorial University and King Fadh University of Petroleum and Minerals (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia) to create joint engineering design projects and to conduct them on Memorial University campus in Harlow, England.  Since the campus is lose to some of the world’s premier engineering design firms, the students could draw ome opportunities also exist to engage students in international engineering practice.   con local, international experts.   International Engineering Practice  SA good example was the evaluation of designs for entries into the America’s Cup race.  The contract for the design evaluation of the Swiss entry (the Alinghi) was held by Oceanic Consulting Corp., a Newfoundland company.  Although the work was conducted in a strictly confidential manner, engineering students subsequently learnt about the basic methodologies and highly competitive international standards.   Page 6/8  The fact that the Alinghi won the Cup added to the realism and thrill of the learning experience.     ative Research Projects ely on providing undergraduate engineering e  a similar need for graduate students.  his need can be addressed by ollaborative, international research rojects.  Examples of such projects re the development of autonomous nderwater vehicles (AUV) and lemedicine.  Both types of projects equire considerable financial and intellectual resources, resources that are not usually held by a single  Partnering is therefore required and, if the partners are ojetu ree.      Corp.Newfoundland  Executing Large-Scale Collabor While the focus of this paper has been largstudents with international perspectives, therInternational Engineering PracticeOceanic Consulting Alinghi – America Cup Winner isT As in the case of international design prtelemedicine also provide major cross-culimpediment to such projects is that there areuniversity-based R&D on an international scalexception.      Executing Large-Scale Collaborative Research ProjectsAutonomous underwater vehiclesTelemedicinecpauteruniversity. selected from different countries, good international learning opportunities result. cts, the development of AUV’s and ral learning opportunities.  A major latively few countries willing to support   The European Union provides a major Page 7/8 Internationalizing the Engineering Professoriate professors in developing countries to acquire and maintain such experience.  Memorial University has therefore started to pursue joint appointments of academic staff at foreign universities.  The staff members could, by agreement ngst the universities, departments, unions and individuals, be contracted To provide tability, the contract period should emeedd h  ps  i• Participation in international engineering practice, including design competitions; • Executing large-scale collaborative research projects, a measure that is rly well suited for graduate students • Internationalizing the engineering professoriate through joint appointments would welcome expressions of interest.  I can be contacted at:  Prof. Axel Meisen, Pre5S7; Tel.: (709) 737-8212; Fax: (709) 737-2059; E-mail: president@mun.ca.  The development of global perspectives amongst engineering students is greatly assisted when the engineering professoriate has international experience.    It is particularly difficult for engineering Internationalizing the Engineering Professoamofor one term per year to engage in teaching and research.  sextend over several years thereby s to be of great interest to faculty in p them conversant with technological itional income and access to research developing countries would bring an American students. rovide their engineering students with through study abroad and exchange nvolve large numbers of engineering students and are difficulty to sustain.  The following measures are currently under consideration and their full implementation should lead to significant advances:  • Internationalization of engineering curricula through innovative international design experiences; allowing repeat visits.  This arrangement sedeveloping countries since it would also kadvances in the developed world, provide afacilities.  The faculty members from theinternational orientation to the teaching of Nort  Conclusions  Although many North American universitiesopportunities to acquire global perspectiveprograms, these measures do not usuallyriateJoint appointments  - especially with professors in developing countriesparticula Memorial University is interested in pursuing these opportunities with international partners, particularly partners interested in using Memorial University’s residential campus in Harlow, England.    I sident’s Office, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada  A1C Page 8/8 

Developing Global Perspectives for Engineering Students: A North American View

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Developing Global Perspectives for Engineering Students: A North American View

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