Preparing Engineering Students To Work In A Global Environment: The Union College Model

In today’s world, engineering design is being conducted in a global environment. Recent research in engineering education shows that one of the competencies for engineering students is the ability to collaborate and communicate internationally. There is no better place in curricula than the 4th year design capstone to incorporate international experiences for students. University of Toronto has recently started international collaboration in capstone by partnering with universities in China, USA and Singapore. This is problem-based learning that allows students to experience collaboration with international partners. This paper explores the experiences of students in the international capstone design courses. We investigate the challenges, the risks, and the rewards associated with this international and cross cultural collaboration.