A World of Opportunity: A World of Opportunity: Preparing Students for Life!Preparing Students for Life!
Natalie A. MelloNatalie A. MelloDirector of Global Operations,Director of Global Operations,
Interdisciplinary and Interdisciplinary and Global StudiesGlobal Studies
DivisionDivision
WPI sends more engineering students WPI sends more engineering students abroad than any university in the US.abroad than any university in the US.
Opportunities to fulfill degree required projects throughout the world.
Nancy, France…San José, Costa Rica…San Juan, Puerto Rico…Venice, Italy…
Windhoek, Namibia…Wuhan, PRC
Bangk
ok, T
haila
nd…
Budap
est,
Hun
gary
…Cap
e
Tow
n, S
outh
Afr
ica…
Cop
enha
gen,
Den
mar
k…
Hon
g Kon
g, P
RCIfrane, M
orocco…Kyoto, Japan…
Limerick, Ireland…
London, United K
ingdom…
Melbourne, Australia
Students & faculty live on site for 2 months while
solving open ended problems that benefit the
local community.
Growth of the Global Perspective Growth of the Global Perspective ProgramProgram
WPI has sent over 6000 students off-campus since 1974WPI has sent over 6000 students off-campus since 1974
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
1998 1999
20002001
20022003
2004
2005
20062007*
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Year of Graduation* projected
Percentage of graduates with an off-campus experiencePercentage of graduates with an off-campus experience
So how does WPI manage to do So how does WPI manage to do this?this?
• WPI offers opportunities to fulfill degree WPI offers opportunities to fulfill degree requirements elsewhere in the worldrequirements elsewhere in the world
• Unique curriculum and term systemUnique curriculum and term system
• Established & Competitive Recruiting CyclesEstablished & Competitive Recruiting Cycles
• Established Risk ManagementEstablished Risk Management
• Commitment to Student Centered ExperienceCommitment to Student Centered Experience
At WPI, there are 3 degree required At WPI, there are 3 degree required projects:projects:
The project in Humanities → and Arts
Suff - Completed in the 1st 2 years
The project in Humanities → and Arts
The Interdisciplinary Project → (not related to the major)
Suff - Completed in the 1st 2 years
IQP - Completed in the 3rd year
At WPI, there are 3 degree required At WPI, there are 3 degree required projects:projects:
The project in Humanities → and Arts
The Interdisciplinary Project → (not related to the major)
The Discipline Specific, → Technical Project (definitely related to the Major)
Suff - Completed in the 1st 2 years
IQP - Completed in the 3rd year
MQP - Completed in the 4th year
At WPI, there are 3 degree required At WPI, there are 3 degree required projects:projects:
Where do these Where do these opportunities exist?opportunities exist?
Projects in the Humanities & ArtsProjects in the Humanities & Arts
LONDON, United KingdomLONDON, United Kingdom• History, Drama, Music or LiteratureMADRID, SpainMADRID, Spain • Spanish Language, Culture or LiteratureDARMSTADT, GermanyDARMSTADT, Germany • German Language, Culture or LiteratureIFRANE, Morocco – New site!IFRANE, Morocco – New site!• Islamic History & Culture Studies
Interdisciplinary ProjectsInterdisciplinary Projects
Bangkok, Bangkok, ThailandThailand
Boston, Mass.Boston, Mass.
Cape Town, SACape Town, SA
Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDenmark
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRCPRC
London, UKLondon, UKMelbourne, Melbourne,
AustraliaAustraliaSan JosSan José, é,
Costa RicaCosta RicaSan Juan, San Juan,
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Venice, ItalyVenice, Italy
Worcester, Worcester, Mass.Mass.
Washington, Washington, DCDC
Windhoek, Windhoek, NamibiaNamibia
Technical ProjectsTechnical Projects
• Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Hungary (cs)(cs) • Gallo Wineries, CA Gallo Wineries, CA
(cme,me)(cme,me) • Kyoto, Japan Kyoto, Japan (cs,imgd)(cs,imgd) • Limerick, Ireland Limerick, Ireland (ece)(ece)• MIT Lincoln Labs MIT Lincoln Labs
(ece,cs,ma,me,ph) (ece,cs,ma,me,ph)
• Nancy, France Nancy, France (cm,cbc,che)(cm,cbc,che)
• Silicon Valley, CA Silicon Valley, CA (cs,ece)(cs,ece)• Venice, Italy Venice, Italy (cs)(cs)• Wall Street, & London Wall Street, & London
(cs,ma,mg,ie,mge)(cs,ma,mg,ie,mge)• Wuhan, PRC Wuhan, PRC (me,mfe)(me,mfe)
(major dependent)(major dependent)
Do projects happen elsewhere?
Wuhan, China → PC E07
NSF Station, Antarctica
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Turks & Caicos
Gothenberg, Sweden
Tortolla, BVI
Modesto, CA → PC C06
Sydney, Australia
Rome, Italy
St. Croix, USVI
Greenwich, UK
Istanbul, Turkey
Kyoto, Japan → PC A08
Nancy, France → PC C05
Individually Sponsored Residential ProjectsWork with a faculty advisor to complete the process
How do these projects How do these projects fit into such a tight fit into such a tight
schedule?schedule?
A TermA TermA TermA Term C TermC TermC TermC Term
Typical WPI Student’s Academic YearTypical WPI Student’s Academic Year
1 semester = 2 terms
1 term = 7 weeks
6 courses / semester
3 courses / term
B TermB Term D TermD TermD TermD Term
Intro StaticsIntro Statics
Differ. EquationsDiffer. Equations
AnatomyAnatomy
Principles of EEPrinciples of EE
Fluid MechanicsFluid Mechanics
Project = 3 coursesProject = 3 courses
Project in
Bangkok
Project in
BangkokSoc.Sci. MethodsSoc.Sci. Methods
Intro Art HistoryIntro Art History
Calc IV
Gen. PhysicsGen. Physics
ProposalProposal
Global Fair
SeptemberGeneral Applications
DueSite Specific Info
Sessions
Interview with Faculty Center
Directors
Decision Letters Mailed Home
January
IQP & Sufficiency Site Specific Applications
Due
Sufficiency Applications Due
Sign up for interviews via the web
Deposits Due
February
Recruiting typically occurs a year in advanceRecruiting typically occurs a year in advance
Can WPI offer a secure yet
academically valuable experience?
SponsorSponsor
LiaisonLiaison
Resident Resident Faculty Faculty
AdvisorsAdvisors
Center Center DirectorDirector ProjectProject
Preparation Preparation InstructorInstructor
Orientation and Orientation and Re-Entry Re-Entry
FacilitatorFacilitator
Student Student ExperienceExperience
Risk Risk Management Management
TeamTeam
Local Local CoordinatorCoordinator
Support ServicesSupport Services
Why does WPI do all Why does WPI do all this?this?
Educational Outcomes Realized by Educational Outcomes Realized by a Global Experiencea Global Experience
• Solving Solving real-world, open-endedreal-world, open-ended problemsproblems• Working inWorking in teamsteams• Improving written & verbalImproving written & verbal communicationcommunication• MakingMaking connectionsconnections betweenbetween
– Classroom and experiential learningClassroom and experiential learning– Impact of decisions of the profession on culture and Impact of decisions of the profession on culture and
communitycommunity– Impact of culture and community on decisions of the Impact of culture and community on decisions of the
professionprofession
• Professional and personalProfessional and personal growthgrowth
Who in the world Who in the world notices?notices?
Association of American Colleges and Universities recognized WPI as one of its sixteen Leadership Institutions, for “its vision and program as an exemplary way of infusing liberal and global studies into pre-professional education.”
WPI: One of Ten Institutions Honored for Exemplary Internationalization, 2002-2003
Theodore M. Hesburgh Certificate of Theodore M. Hesburgh Certificate of ExcellenceExcellence, 2003 for “The WPI Global , 2003 for “The WPI Global
Perspective Program”Perspective Program”
The Andrew Heiskell Awards For Innovation In International Education 2003-2004
Turning the Tide by J.HarrissVenice has defied the onslaught of the sea for centuries. But as water levels rise and foundations erode, Venetians must seek out new ways to save the city's fabled artworks and architectural treasures…
…There's also a plan to reduce the effects of moto ondoso, thanks in part to studies by the Massachusetts-based Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Venice Project Center…
WPI’s Fabio Carrera, Founder and Center Director of the Venice Project Center featured inVenice Under Siege, National Geographic Channel’s Out There television show, aired May 2002
WPI student team featured in
Italy’s Endangered Art By Erla Zwingle,
Photographs by O. Louis Mazzatenta National Geographic Magazine, August
1999
WPI…All Around the World,WPI…All Around the World,Preparing Students for Life!Preparing Students for Life!
Kate Soojian, Class of 2008
Biomedical Engineering Major
Costa Rica, E06, IQP sponsored by Intel
