Going Global

online student experience

For an engineering student, one of the benefits of the study abroad experience is learning about different approaches international peers apply to engineering challenges. This fall, the Clark School is piloting five new courses that capitalize on the virtual platform to connect students on a global scale. Developed by the Clark School’s Office of Global Engineering Leadership and faculty in collaboration with UMD’s Office of International Studies, the new Clark Global Classrooms program brings an international context to engineering coursework by delivering engaging, virtual experiences. Tackling global challenges like air pollution, public health, and emerging technology, fall courses include a host of international speakers from other universities and industry experts from the global private sector. Future courses will partner with peer classrooms at international universities like the University of Johannesburg and the University of Melbourne, where students will collaborate on engineering projects or in global competitions.

“The goal is to get students thinking a bit more about how engineering is globally connected and how their career can be globally connected,” says Brian Dillehay, assistant director of the Office of Global Engineering Leadership. “Connecting them to these experiences will help them see those possibilities on the world stage.”

Published August 31, 2020