Faculty plan several study abroad experiences

Shorter study abroad opportunities are available for faculty and students during Purdue's summer sessions (and spring break). We asked CoT professors where they're going and where they've been for 2011.

Sustainable Energy Technologies (ECET 49900, SA 10903)

Visiting: Germany
Purpose: To explore various energy technologies and European culture, visit industries
Students participating: 7
Led by: Gregory Moss and Neal Widmer, electrical and computer engineering technology

Technology, Innovation and Culture in Spain and Europe (SA 10908)

Visiting: Spain
Purpose: To give students the opportunity to explore and discover the global technology world that has dramatically developed in just the past decade. The group will tour industries such as SEAT (owned by VW) and Delphi. They also will see the technology behind the Barcelona Super Computer center, the Valencia aquarium, the Politechnic de Valencia’s Innovation center and Valencia’s City of Science. They also will have time to visit historical and cultural hearts of each city.
Students participating: 11
Led by: Michael Dyrenfurth and Kathy Newton, industrial technology; and Bob Herrick, electrical and computer engineering technology

Launch Tomorrow's Aviation Leaders: Experiencing Chinese Air Transportation Industry (AT25800 Air Transportation/SA 10912)

Visiting: China (Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai)
Purpose: Understanding China's booming air transportation industry, Chinese higher education in aviation, Airbus in Tianjin, and local cultures. Students will attend International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Conference in Beijing. They will present research on Market Factors Relating to Aircraft Values in China and the U.S.
Students participating: 4
Led by: Chien-Tsung Lu and Denver Lopp, aviation technology

SFS-Costa Rica: Sustaining Tropical Ecosystems (SA35003)

Visiting: Costa Rica
Purpose: Introduce students to culture, tropical agriculture and sustainable systems, and complete service learning projects related to building, improving, energy audit, and training locals to sustain a healthy built environment. This is the third year of a three-year grant for Agriculture, and Building Construction Management students are being added for the first time.
Students participating: 10 (Technology and Agriculture combined)
Led by: Lori Snyder and Dr. John Patterson, College of Agriculture; Daphene Koch, building construction management

International Construction Management in Ireland (SA10905)

Visiting: Republic of Ireland (cities of Dublin, Cork, Cobh, Limerick, Galway, Howth)
Purpose: To introduce construction management students to the different materials, methods of planning, installation, and safety implemented by European construction companies
Students participating: 14
Led by: James Jenkins, building construction management

International Construction Management in China (SA10906)

Visiting: China
Purpose: Visit Beijing, Dalian and Shanghai. In Beijing, visit North Central Power University and Tsinghua. While at Tsinghua the Purdue group will take part in a discussion panel on improving industry relations between the two countries. The students will also visit cultural venues such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Olympic venues. At Dalian University of Technology, the group will participate in another panel discussion. In Shanghai, they will visit with Tongji University for similar discussions. At each location, students will be paired with a Chinese student who has a similar career path so they can have an individual cultural exchange.
Students participating: 7
Led by: Doug Keith, building construction management

IP Telephony Projects in Peru (CNIT 39900)

Visiting: Peru
Purpose: First, explore and utilize open-source IP PBX software in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these systems and their interactions with the traditional telephone system. Second, provide a significant international cultural experience. Students gain technical knowledge by working through the course content while also gaining international and cultural experiences by interacting with Peruvian students in the classroom. Additional cultural experiences are gained through visits and tours through local museums, churches, parks, evening dining at local restaurants, etc. and a trip to the Amazon Rainforest.
Students participating: 7 (plus 7 from Instituto Superior Tecnológico de Peru – TECSUP)
Led by: Raymond Hansen and Victor Barlow, computer and information technology

Professors also led trips during spring break, including:

Manufacturing in Germany (MFET 49900)

Visited: Germany (Munich and locations in Bavaria)
Purpose: Part of the semester-long course, the trip includes visits to manufacturing sites that produce automobiles, robots and beverages. Some operations feature state-of-the-art automation and controls, some are surprisingly manual. The trip also includes visits to historic and cultural sites in Germany and the Munich University of Applied Sciences. One hundred and four students have completed the trip since 2004.
Students participating: 15 (14 undergraduates and one graduate student)
Led by: Henry Kraebber, professor of mechanical engineering technology, Sharon Kraebber, head academic advisor for organizational leadership and supervision, Anthony Smith, professor of computer and information technology.

Global Leadership in Ireland (OLS 29900)

Visited: Ireland
Purpose: The learning outcomes of the course (class and travel) will enable to students to discover the political, historical, and cultural issues in Ireland. This learning will be enhanced by business/industry visits as well as historic sites in Dublin, Kilkenny, and Limerick. To complete the visit, the students interacted with students and staff at the University of Limerick and met with Patrick Flood, Dublin City University, author of the textbook used for the course.
Students participating: 32
Led by: Michele Summers, associate professor of organizational leadership and supervision (Lafayette)