WPI’s Global Perspective Program:
Not your typical study abroad
Natalie A. Mello
Director of Global Operations,
Interdisciplinary and
Global Studies
Division
Educational Objectives
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Open-ended, integrative problem solving
Multidisciplinary teamwork
Independent learning
Written & verbal
communication
• Professional and
personal growth
• Making connections:
–society and technology
–classroom and real world
–work, cultures
and communities
Switzerland
One way to prepare students for the
world is to put them in the world.
Students & faculty live on
site for 2 months while
solving open ended
problems that benefit the
local community.
Nancy, France…San José, Costa Rica…San Juan, Puerto Rico…Shanghai, PRC…Venice, Italy…
Windhoek, Namibia…Wuhan, PRC
Opportunities to fulfill degree required projects throughout the world.
Growth of the Global Perspective Program
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Over 6800 students off-campus since 1974
Class of 2008
– 70% of graduates had an off-campus experience
– 52% of graduates had an international experience
So how does WPI manage to do
this?
• WPI offers opportunities to fulfill degree
requirements elsewhere in the world
• Unique curriculum and term system
• Established & Competitive Recruiting
Cycles
• Established Risk Management
• Commitment to Student Centered
Experience
At WPI, all students have to
complete three projects:
• The Project in the Humanities and Arts
• The Interdisciplinary Project – not related to
your major (IQP)
• The Discipline Specific, Technical Project –
definitely related to your Major (MQP)
Students have completed projects in
the Humanities and Arts in
United Kingdom
• History, Drama, Music or
Literature
Spain
• Spanish Language, Culture
or Literature
Germany
• German Language, Culture
or Literature
Morocco
• Islamic Studies
Morocco
Established sites to complete the
Interdisciplinary Project
Bangkok
Boston
Cape Town
Copenhagen
Hong Kong
London (2)
Melbourne (2)
San José
San Juan
Venice
Worcester (3)
Washington
Windhoek
Klong Tuey, Bangkok
What is an Interdisciplinary
Project?
• Done in teams
• Independent from the
student’s major
• Equivalent in credit to
3 courses
• Sponsored by an
outside agency
• Open ended and real
Venice, Italy
Examples of Interdisciplinary Projects
In Namibia WPI students worked
with a local community to
design better insulation for
shanty towns to increase the
local standard of living.
A WPI student team introduced
solar power to an indigenous
population in Thailand where
there had never been electricity
before.
In DC students worked with the
CPSC to study the dangers of
multipurpose infant devices.
Windhoek, Namibia
Students can complete their technical
projects (MQP) at these sites
• Limerick, Ireland
• Lincoln Labs,
Lexington, MA
• Edmonton, Canada
• Budapest, Hungary
• Wuhan, PRC
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Daegu, S. Korea
Nancy, France
Wall Street, NY
Silicon Valley, CA
Gallo Wineries in
Modesto, CA
(major dependent: not all sites open to every major)
What is the MQP?
The Major Qualifying Project
• Senior thesis or design project
• Equivalent in credit to 3 courses
• Done in small teams under
faculty guidance
• Analysis, design, synthesis,
realization
• Equivalent to a first professional
experience
Examples of Off-Campus MQPs
• Remote surveillance system
over GSM network (Internet
Control Systems, Limerick)
• Improving Risk Reporting
(Lehman Brothers, Wall St.)
• Implementing Peer-to-Peer
Web Services using Skype
(eBay, Silicon Valley)
• Alginate Polymers for Drug
Delivery (ENSIC, Nancy,
France)
Can projects happen elsewhere?
Individually Sponsored Residential Projects
Work with a faculty advisor to complete the process
Buenos Aires, Argentina
NSF Station, Antarctica
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Turks & Caicos
Gothenberg, Sweden
Tortolla, BVI
Sydney, Australia
Rome, Italy
St. Croix, USVI
Greenwich, UK
Istanbul, Turkey
Taipei, Taiwan
Typical WPI Student’s Academic Year
1 semester = 2 terms
6 courses / semester
1 term = 7 weeks
3 courses / term
A Term
B Term
Intro Art History
Intro Statics
Calc IV
Differ. Equations
Gen. Physics
Soc.Sci. Methods
C Term
D Term
Anatomy
Project in
Bangkok
Proposal
Project = 3 courses
Principles of EE
Fluid Mechanics
WPI is a leader in health & safety in
education abroad
Aggressive Risk Management
 Philosophical Approach
Identify, Analyze, Manage Risks
 Practical Approach
Tailored Program for each Off-Campus Site
 Goal
To Protect the Students, Advisors, the Program
and WPI
WPI Global Perspective Program
• “Project Centers” located around
the globe
• Not an exchange or internship
or coursework
• Students and faculty advisors
live and work on-site for two
months
• Real-world projects for local
agencies solving real needs
• 70% of projects done at Project
Centers
Bangkok, Thailand
Venice, Italy
WPI…All Around the World,
Preparing Students for Life!
www.wpi.edu/+global