Program Overview
Engineering is an increasingly global enterprise, linking collaborators, design groups, supply chains, and customer sites all around the world. Paradoxically, engineering students tend not to participate in study abroad programs due to their rigorous course schedules and strict ABET requirements. To provide an opportunity for our engineering students to have a distinctive international experience, to meet industry leaders, and to enhance their education with topics that are beyond the core curriculum, the University of Miami, Florida and the University of Rochester, New York have established a unique international program known as the "Engineering for the Americas."
The main goal of this program is to create a cohort of highly-talented engineering students across the Americas who will build lasting professional relationships that will benefit them, their institutions, their countries, and enhance the progress of the engineering community in general.
The program curriculum will have two distinct features. The first will introduce students to leaders from industry, the academy, and government. Topics for discussion could include leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology policy and politics. The second feature of the program will draw on the distinctive strengths of the hosting institution. Participating students will have the opportunity to hear from and interact with prominent researchers and visit world-renowned laboratories. Special seminars on topics of local distinction could also be offered.
In addition to technical sessions, the program will include meetings with industry leaders and visits to local technology-related companies. Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy local attractions on their own, if they so choose.
The structure of this certificate program is two sessions per year, each one week in duration. Students are expected to attend both sessions in a given year. Students who attend both sessions in a year will receive a certificate of participation.
During the first year in 2007, 30 - 40 of the top engineering students from universities in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico and the USA attended the program. This included 10-20 students from participating institutions in Canada and Latin America, 10 students from the University of Rochester and 10 students from the University of Miami.
For further information please contact us.
