A World of Opportunity: Preparing Students for Life! Natalie A. Mello Director of Global Operations, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division

WPI sends more engineering students abroad than any university in the US. Opportunities to fulfill degree required projects throughout the world. Nancy, France…San José, Costa Rica…San Juan, Puerto Rico…Venice, Italy… Windhoek, Namibia…Wuhan, PRC Bangkok, Thailand…Budapest, Hungary…Cape Town, South Africa…Copenhagen, Denmark…Hong Kong, PRC Ifrane, Morocco…Kyoto, Japan… 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 WPI has sent over 6000 students off-campus since 1974

Percentage of graduates with an off-campus experience

So how does WPI manage to do this? WPI offers opportunities to fulfill degree requirements elsewhere in the worldWPI offers opportunities to fulfill degree requirements elsewhere in the world Unique curriculum and term systemUnique curriculum and term system Established & Competitive Recruiting CyclesEstablished & Competitive Recruiting Cycles Established Risk ManagementEstablished Risk Management Commitment to Student Centered ExperienceCommitment to Student Centered Experience

At WPI, there are 3 degree required projects: The project in Humanities → and Arts Suff - Completed in the 1 st 2 years

The project in Humanities → and Arts The Interdisciplinary Project → (not related to the major) Suff - Completed in the 1 st 2 years IQP - Completed in the 3 rd year At WPI, there are 3 degree required projects:

The project in Humanities → and Arts The Interdisciplinary Project → (not related to the major) The Discipline Specific, → Technical Project (definitely related to the Major) Suff - Completed in the 1 st 2 years IQP - Completed in the 3 rd year MQP - Completed in the 4 th year At WPI, there are 3 degree required projects:

Where do these opportunities exist?

Projects in the Humanities & Arts LONDON, United Kingdom History, Drama, Music or Literature MADRID, Spain Spanish Language, Culture or Literature DARMSTADT, Germany German Language, Culture or Literature IFRANE, Morocco – New site! Islamic History & Culture Studies

Interdisciplinary Projects Bangkok, Thailand Boston, Mass. Cape Town, SA Copenhagen, Denmark Hong Kong, PRC London, UK Melbourne, Australia San José, Costa Rica San Juan, Puerto Rico Venice, Italy Worcester, Mass. Washington, DC Windhoek, Namibia

Technical Projects Budapest, Hungary (cs)Budapest, Hungary (cs) Gallo Wineries, CA (cme,me)Gallo Wineries, CA (cme,me) Kyoto, Japan (cs,imgd)Kyoto, Japan (cs,imgd) Limerick, Ireland (ece)Limerick, Ireland (ece) MIT Lincoln Labs (ece,cs,ma,me,ph)MIT Lincoln Labs (ece,cs,ma,me,ph) Nancy, France (cm,cbc,che)Nancy, France (cm,cbc,che) Silicon Valley, CA (cs,ece)Silicon Valley, CA (cs,ece) Venice, Italy (cs)Venice, Italy (cs) Wall Street, & London (cs,ma,mg,ie,mge)Wall Street, & London (cs,ma,mg,ie,mge) Wuhan, PRC (me,mfe)Wuhan, PRC (me,mfe) (major dependent)

Do projects happen elsewhere? Wuhan, China → PC E07 NSF Station, Antarctica Colombo, Sri Lanka Turks & Caicos Gothenberg, Sweden Tortolla, BVI Modesto, CA → PC C06 Sydney, Australia Rome, Italy St. Croix, USVI Greenwich, UK Istanbul, Turkey Kyoto, Japan → PC A08 Nancy, France → PC C05 Individually Sponsored Residential Projects Work with a faculty advisor to complete the process

How do these projects fit into such a tight schedule?

A Term C Term Typical WPI Student’s Academic Year 1 semester = 2 terms 1 term = 7 weeks 6 courses / semester 3 courses / term B 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

Global Fair September General Applications Due Site Specific Info Sessions Interview with Faculty Center Directors Decision Letters Mailed Home January IQP & Sufficiency Site Specific Applications Due Sufficiency Applications Due Sign up for interviews via the web Deposits Due February Recruiting typically occurs a year in advance

Can WPI offer a secure yet academically valuable experience?

Sponsor Liaison Resident Faculty Advisors Center Director Project Preparation Instructor Orientation and Re-Entry Facilitator Student Experience Risk Management Team Local Coordinator Support Services

Why does WPI do all this?

Educational Outcomes Realized by a Global Experience Solving real-world, open-ended problemsSolving real-world, open-ended problems Working in teamsWorking in teams Improving written & verbal communicationImproving written & verbal communication Making connections betweenMaking connections between –Classroom and experiential learning –Impact of decisions of the profession on culture and community –Impact of culture and community on decisions of the profession Professional and personal growthProfessional and personal growth

Who in the world notices?

Association of American Colleges and Universities recognized WPI as one of its sixteen Leadership Institutions, for “its vision and program as an exemplary way of infusing liberal and global studies into pre-professional education.” WPI: One of Ten Institutions Honored for Exemplary Internationalization,

Theodore M. Hesburgh Certificate of Excellence, 2003 for “The WPI Global Perspective Program” The Andrew Heiskell Awards For Innovation In International Education

Turning the Tide by J.Harriss Venice has defied the onslaught of the sea for centuries. But as water levels rise and foundations erode, Venetians must seek out new ways to save the city's fabled artworks and architectural treasures… …There's also a plan to reduce the effects of moto ondoso, thanks in part to studies by the Massachusetts-based Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Venice Project Center…

WPI’s Fabio Carrera, Founder and Center Director of the Venice Project Center featured in Venice Under Siege, National Geographic Channel’s Out There television show, aired May 2002 WPI student team featured in Italy’s Endangered Art By Erla Zwingle, Photographs by O. Louis Mazzatenta National Geographic Magazine, August 1999

WPI…All Around the World, Preparing Students for Life! Kate Soojian, Class of 2008 Biomedical Engineering Major Costa Rica, E06, IQP sponsored by Intel