WPI

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WPIs Global Perspective ProgramProjects for
Undergraduate Students Around the World

• Holly K. Ault
• Assoc. Professor, ME
• Center Director, Melbourne

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Where in the World is WPI?
Over 30 International Project Sites on 5
Continents
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Growth of the Global Perspective Program
WPI has sent over 5800 students off-campus since
1974 Class of 2005 - 70 of graduates had an
off-campus 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

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At WPI, all students must complete three projects

• The Project in the Humanities and Arts
• The Interactive Project not related to the
  major (IQP)
• The Discipline Specific, Technical Project
  definitely related to the Major (MQP)

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But, there is no reason students have to stay at
WPI

• Six traditional exchange opportunities
• Three different opportunities to complete the
  humanities and arts project off campus
• Fourteen locations to complete the interactive
  project off campus (IQP)
• Ten different sites to complete the technical
  project (MQP)

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What is an Interactive Project?

• The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP)
  challenges students to address a problem that
  lies at the intersection of science or technology
  and societal structures or human needs. The
  objective of the IQP is to enable WPI graduates
  to understand, as citizens and as professionals,
  how their careers will affect the larger society
  of which they are part. Generally, these projects
  involve some analysis of how technology affects,
  and is affected by, individuals and communities.

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IQP Themes

• Technology and Environment
• Energy and Resources
• Health Care and Technology
• Science Technology Policy and Management
• Humanistic Studies of Technology
• Education in a Technological Society
• Law and Technology

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Where have students gone to complete the
Interactive Project?
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Students have completed the Interactive Project in

• Hong Kong, PRC
• London, UK
• Melbourne, Australia
• San José, Costa Rica

San Juan, Puerto Rico Venice, Italy Worcester,
Mass. Windhoek, Namibia

• Bangkok, Thailand
• Boston, Mass.
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Washington, DC

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Where can students go to complete their technical
projects?
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Students can complete their technical projects at
these sites

• Nancy, France
• Wall Street, NY
• Silicon Valley, CA
• Gallo Wineries in Modesto, CA
• Jet Propulsion Lab, OH

• Limerick, Ireland
• Lincoln Labs, Lexington, MA
• Johnson Space Flight Center, TX
• Budapest, Hungary
• The Gillette Co., Boston, MA

(major dependent)
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How do these projects fit into such a tight
schedule?
In other words, if I do a project off campus, can
I still graduate in four years?
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Typical WPI Students Academic Year
1 semester 2 terms 1 term 7 weeks
6 courses / semester 3 courses / term
A Term
B Term
C Term
D Term
Experimentation
Fluid Mechanics
Machine Design
Project in Bangkok
Linear Algebra
Advanced CAD
Principles of EE
Art History
Physics IV
Soc.Sci. Methods
Project 3 courses
Proposal
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Risk Management Team
Center Director
Project Preparation Instructor
Resident Faculty Advisors
Student Experience
Support Services
Orientation and Re-Entry Facilitator
Local Coordinator
Sponsor Liaison
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Educational Outcomes Realized by a Global
Experience

• Solving real-world, open-ended problems
• Working in teams
• Improving written verbal communication
• Making 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 growth

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The Students

• Leigh Duren, ME06
• IQP, Bangkok, C term 2005
• Presidents IQP Award
• Tara Barden, ME05
• MQP, Melbourne, C term 2005
• Sandia fellowship, MS Fire Protection Eng.
• R. William Lapp, MSCS02
• IQP, Melbourne, D term 2001
• Technical Escalation Manager, Cisco Systems

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WPIAll Around the World, Preparing Students for
Life!