Critical issues and lessons learned in establishing concurrent international MS degree programs in engineering technology

Abstract

Globalization, competitiveness, and innovation are frequently employed themes as governments, business and industry and universities attempt to respond to the challenges facing them. Clearly business as usual is not likely to be successful in the future. One strategic response for universities has been a significant impetus – in many parts of the world – towards dual, joint or concurrent degree programs involving international partners. It is perhaps not surprising that engineering is among the disciplines that make most use of international collaboration but it seems that engineering technology programs do not yet participate as extensively in this aspect of international education. Furthermore, it seems that much of the movement towards such collaborative degrees is occurring at the Master’s level. At the 2010 ASEE Conference, the core of this author team presented an overview of the purposes and aspirations of a new concurrent Masters degree project funded jointly by the European Union and the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education.