MANAGING INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS IN ENGINEERING – 12 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The Canadian Federal Government startedfunding mobility exchange programs in Canadianuniversities and colleges in 1996. The exchanges weremultilateral, which included at least three Canadianuniversities and three universities from different countriesof the European Union. The University of Manitoba,under the direction of the author, was the first to receivesuch a grant in engineering and set up a mobilityprogram with five European universities in five countries.Since that time, the author at the University of Manitoba,Faculty of Engineering, has received a total of five grantsand has sent out and received over 150 students. Severalissues had to be dealt with: Compatibility of the partners,joint programs and joint curricula; changing the cultureand mindset of the participating students and of theprofessors and administrations; foreign language andculture; and sustainability of the program. A review of theexperience of the author in this activity is presented.

 

 

Index Terms — Globalization of engineering education,international mobility programs in engineering,sustainability.