An increasing number of employers, students and engineering schools are recognizing the value of meaningful international and intercultural experiences. However, students in prerequisite driven curriculums like engineering find it hard to fit time to go abroad into their schedules without delaying graduation. The problem compounded for students in institutions that require periods of cooperative education. This paper describes a program designed to address these concerns while challenging students cultural frameworks and engineering talent. The program provides participating students with an in-depth cultural immersion experience in Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. During the three-week program students learn limited Spanish, live with local host families, take a business and culture class, work in a local manufacturing company and work with local students to design and build a product to meet a need identified by local community members. The program is based in Esteli, Nicaragua where the faculty sponsors have extensive experience and contacts. The faculty co-sponsors have run an innovation and entrepreneurship program in Esteli for the past five years. The program is specifically designed to appeal to engineering students and fit into the perquisite driven engineering curriculum. The objectives of the program are listed below. 1. Provide an opportunity for students majoring in engineering to participate in a study abroad program. 2. Provide an opportunity for students majoring in engineering live, learn and work in a culture at the base of the economic pyramid. 3. Provide an opportunity for students majoring in engineering to design products for people living at the base of the economic pyramid. During the first week of the program, students will spend their mornings in Culture, Business and Language class. A local language school is providing a customized mix of essential Spanish language training, visits to local businesses and culturally relevant community excursions. In the evenings students will have a chance to process their experience through discussions with faculty and journaling. During the afternoons of the first week the students will work with local students to repair products brought in by community members. This activity will help the students understand the resources and technology available to the community. During the afternoons of the second week students will work in local manufacturing companies to learn how companies operate and solve problems in a different culture at the base of the economic pyramid. In the third week, students from the US and Nicaragua will work together to design and prototype solution to a problem identified by local community members. The aim of the combined team will be to design a solution that can be made in Nicaragua and sold at a price that average Nicaraguans can afford. The weekends will be reserved for visiting a rural community and sightseeing. Upon returning the students will take up regular Co-op assignments to complete the requirements for the co-op cycle. The program has been approved by the university and the first offering is planned for May, 2011.
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