Lessons Learned: Our First Engineering Study Abroad Program

The outsourcing of engineering work overseas is dramatically increasing, especially to India. U.S. universities are also experiencing large increases in graduate students from India. Many engineering graduates will eventually manage, work with, or work for people in/from India. The University of Arkansas, College of Engineering created the Engineering Study Abroad in India Program beginning summer 2006. The program’s purpose is to introduce UofA students to Indian culture and history while studying engineering, to build connections with undergraduate and graduate engineering programs in India, and to bring awareness of the UofA engineering program to Indian students and faculty. Few India study abroad programs exist, and those that do tend to focus on only the student experience. Our program also focuses on building relationships with Indian universities, students and faculty. Creation of the program entailed: 1) determining program goals and budget, 2) creating the administrative framework for this unique program, 3) locating an appropriate engineering college in India to host the students and faculty, 4) selecting the UofA faculty member/courses to be taught, 5) selecting and preparing the students, and 6) working out the program details. Lessons learned during this first program year include how to deal with: 1) administrative problems associated with setting up courses taught off campus, 2) foreign expenses, 3) locating a university with appropriate credentials/facilities, 4) student selection, 5) living conditions in a developing country, 6) student culture shock and safety requirements, and 7) extracurricular activities. The final phase of the program included an evaluation which was used to guide future program improvements. Methods of evaluation included: 1) student journals, 2) faculty debriefings, 3) student debriefings, and 4) program successes documentation. The areas that have been targeted for improvement include: 1) expanded pre-departure student awareness, 2) more explicit specifications of what is expected from the host institution, 3) and better coordination of extracurricular activities with classes. We feel the first year of the program was a success and provided many valuable lessons for the future of the UofA Engineering Study Abroad in India Program.