Experiential programs are an important component of engineering education because they because they provide opportunities for students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations. When the experiential programming takes place in an international setting, the learning benefits are compounded. While there are a variety of ways in which students can obtain an international experience, we focus on only one her - short term, intensive programs. Specifically, students participating in a well-designed, short-term experiential international program not only gain valuable hands-on practical experience, but they also further develop their cross-cultural communication skills, knowledge of other countries and marketplaces, sensitivity to the perspectives of others, and in some cases, even language skills and ability to work in multi-disciplinary groups. These are all skills that our engineering graduates must possess if they are to become future global technical leaders and retain their place in Friedman's "Flat World." To date, engineering students have faced particular challenges in finding appropriate study abroad programs. The unique obstacles faced by engineering students require an innovative approach to internationalizing their education. In order to address this challenge, a small, but growing number of universities are creating short-term, engineering-specific, experiential programs overseas. This paper will present cutting-edge program models and provide best practice advice and implementation strategies.
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