GLOBAL INITIATIVES: SHAPING THE CURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR LANDSCAPE AND ITS IMPACT ON STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

摘要

This study examined the impact of global initiative campus programs as an integrative learning experience and its impact on student ability development and career paths. An undergraduate survey was distributed to freshmen and again to seniors. Students were also asked to report their level of confidence in their engineering, science, professional and integrative disciplinary abilities used in complex problem solving as well as career plans at each point in time. In addition, seniors were asked about their participation in global initiative activities including initiative choice, type of activities, length of participation, and motivations for choice. Those who engaged in exploration of a global initiative area reported higher self-efficacy for integrative disciplinary and professional ability factors than non-explorers. Significant differences were also noted for career paths, and certainty of career choice, for explorers versus non-explorers. It is suggested that global initiatives in each area created an organized, more coherent, learning space which students were able to use to, in effect, uniquely organize their undergraduate learning experience. Explorer students were able to use activities in this space to further development of key integrative disciplinary abilities and shape careers that connected engineering with other disciplines.