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