Project Abstract

The project involves the formation of a consortium among six North American Universities (two each from Canada, the United States, and Mexico) for the purpose of mutually preparing engineering students to work effectively in the international business climate fostered by NAFTA, and to acquire design and entrepreneurial skills in an international context.  It is an integrated professor, industry and student program.

The main focus of this program is to enable students to participate on an industry-based project at the host university or on location with the particular industry contact.  The project-based work will be part of the academic requirements of the students' degree program (such as a technical elective or thesis project), or be considered as a work term in the sending university's co-operative programme, should they have one.  Students also have the option to take courses instead of doing the project, or to do both, depending on their objectives.

A key part of this program will be the requirement of providing the student with a mentor for their time at the host institution - a graduate student (Doctorate candidate preferred), a professor or an engineer from industry - who will be able to 'take them under their wing' and provide mentorship during their time abroad.  It is anticipated that the participant will gain insight in culture, local business attitudes, and the design approach used in their professional area in another country.

Student-directed activities include: language and inter-cultural preparation and assimilation, development of a framework for the project, including: student recruitment and selection, academic credit recognition, formation of a working group to arrange mentors and industrial projects/contacts.

The academic partners include: in Canada, the University of Manitoba (Canadian Lead) and University of Saskatchewan; in the United States, California State University, Chico (U.S. Lead) and University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); in Mexico, Universidad Autonoma de
Zacatecas (UAZ - Mexican lead) and Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi (UASLP).

Exchange of a minimum of forty eight engineering students among the three countries of North America (sixteen per country) is planned. Students will spend one or two semesters at the host university.

Monitoring of student internships activities is important due to the engineering accreditation requirements in each North American country.  Meetings of the partners to follow up on these internships will be held in addition to the annual meetings of the project directors.