Pacific Rim Experiences for Undergraduates (PRIME): A Model of Real World Engagement: Experiential Learning Within a Global Research Community Peter Arzberger, Jim Galvin, Jason Haga, Tricia Taylor, Gabriele Wienhausen 26 January 2012 Sixth College Experiential Learning Conference

Prime Skills for Students Concepts and new developments in science and technology82% Teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate with others in diverse group settings76% The ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings through internships or other hands-on experiences73% The ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing73% Critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills73% Global issues and developments and their implications for the future72% The ability to locate, organize, and evaluate information from multiple sources70% The ability to be innovative and think creatively70% The ability to solve complex problems64% The ability to work with numbers and understand statistics60% The role of the United States in the world60% A sense of integrity and ethics56% Cultural values and traditions in America and other countries53% How Should Colleges Prepare Students To Succeed in Today’s Global Economy? AAC&U/Peter D. Hart Research Associates Inc., 2006.

The Stakes are High “What nations don’t know can hurt them. The stakes involved in study abroad are that simple, that straightforward, and that important. … college graduates today must be internationally competent.” (Lincoln Report, 2005) "Your pursuit of the biological and behavioral sciences should indeed improve the competitiveness of the United States. But, if you pursue international research experiences and opportunities, you will contribute substantially to your own development as scientists and that of the nation." (Dr. Cora Marrett, Deputy Director NSF, 2011)

Institute for International Education “Opening Minds to the World” Recent report 2011 on percentage of U.S. students abroad –Engineering: 10, % of total students abroad –Math and CS: 4, % of total students abroad Participation of students in study abroad (percent of total in U.S.) –Higher education: 1.4% –Undergrads: 9.5% –Undergrads pursuing degrees: 14.0% Peace and prosperity around the world depend on increasing the capacity of people to think and work on a global and intercultural basis.

Overview PRIME Model and Framework Insights from Previous Students Future Challenges Panel Discussion

Pacific Rim Experiences for Undergraduate (PRIME) Create globally minded STEM professionals PRIME is an immersive, experiential global educational experience (summer internship) Students learn “how to learn” new skills applied to real world problems, which are complex and require a team approach STEM curricula are packed, i.e. no time to engage in a significant international experience Acts as an interdisciplinary bridge with engineering and physical/life science and flexibly integrates into a STEM curriculum

PRIME Components Campus PartnersContribution PRAGMAPacific Rim Community: host students; nurtures next generation Faculty and ResearchersMentors students International CenterCultural competency training AIPCredit for project work Sixth CollegeMatches theme of practicum with PRIME Calit2 and ORUsProvides research scientists

PRIME Model Outcomes – Impact Short Term Medium Term Long Term Outputs Activities Participation Inputs Mentors (UCSD) Mentors (International) Technology Staff/administrati on Funding Define research projects Provide training to perform research Provide exposure to new culture Provide professional development Create/sustain collaborations Undergraduate students (UCSD) Undergraduate/G raduate students (Host) Globally aware workforce Student career choice Sustainable program Sustainable collaborations Host-site researchers Research experience Publications Software Cultural awareness

PRIME Learning Goals and Outcomes Goals –Give students concepts and new developments in science and technology –Function effectively in multinational work environments –Assimilate comfortably into different world cultures and work environments –Recognize how discipline is practiced in an international context Outcomes –Improved research skills –New direction and skills for job/career path –New perspectives on U.S. society and culture and on the U.S. role in the world Soft Skills –Communication skills –Ability to be a team member and to take on leadership roles in a team –Critical thinking skills –Cross-cultural skills and perspectives –Tolerance for ambiguity, civic engagement –Self-confidence, independence, flexibility, being reflective –Self-knowledge, reevaluation of personal values

Host sites: Osaka U Doshisha U and NICT Japan; Monash, Australia; CNIC, China; USM, Malaysia U Auckland, New Zealand; U Hyderabad India; NCHC and NCREE, NTU, TFRI Taiwan. USM Malaysia NCHC NCREE NTU TFRI Taiwan Monash U Australia U Auckland New Zealand Source Cindy Zheng PRIME Host and Mentor Sites Research Apprenticeship; Cultural Experience UCSD USA Osaka U NICT Doshisha Japan CNIC China

PRIME Data students (73 female) MajorNumber Bioeng52 CS, CSE, ECE40 Aero, Mech, Struct, EngPhys20 Bio31 Other Science (CogSci, Chem)11 Other (Vis Arts)2 Total156 HostNumber CNIC16 Monash37 NCHC12 Osaka31 USM9 U Auckland 10 NTU3 TFRI3 Doshisha10 NICT7 Other11

PRIME Interdisciplinary Research Structural biology Bioengineering Geoscience Visualization Earthquake engineering Environmental engineering Visual arts Cultural heritage Computational chemistry Computer science "I've learned that the real world isn't divided into majors, and most work requires knowledge of many areas of science and engineering." Ranmali Perera, PRIME 2008 PRAGMA Collaborative Overview goc.pragma-grid.net/pragma-doc/overview/2011.pdf

Student Perspective Jade Kwan, PRIME 2009 –NICT, Tokyo, Japan –Tokyo: Inspired and Shaped Brian Tsui, PRIME 2011 –Osaka University, Osaka, Japan –A PRIME experience doing research at Osaka University

PRIME Future Sustainability –Financial: PRIME program funding is ending –People: maintaining the mentor network –Development: expansion of program Assessment of program impact Develop future leadership –Students: identify components that need to be enhanced/added such as: communication, mentoring, team building –Mentors: create professional development component for research scientists, post-docs, grad students acting as PRIME mentors

PRIME Challenges Sustainability –Financial: access and affordability for students (e.g. student fees) –People: administration and mentors, UCSD endorsement/support –Development: program diversity, scaling, and "freshness" Assessment of impact –Students –Mentors –Host site –Research programs Crossover between academic units (paradigm shift)

Sponsors National Science Foundation UCSD: Fellowships, AIP, International Center, Department of Bioengineering; Calit2 NBCR via NIH award GLEON via Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation program PRAGMA members PRIME host sites ( All, USM,NICT )

Panel Discussion Peter Arzberger, Jim Galvin, Jason Haga, Tricia Taylor, Gabriele Wienhausen Isabelle Fanchiu, Brian Tsui