United States Participation in the European Project Semester

Abstract

This chapter describes successful interaction between engineering colleges in the United States and similar institutions engaged in the European Project Semester program, EPS, throughout Europe. Dr. Abata was asked to both teach and serve in the administration of EPS. The EPS program described herein was designed to promote student exchange and student interaction between EPS institutions in a multidiscipline environment in Europe. The primary purpose of EPS is to address engineering design in junior and senior years. Several students from the United States participated in this primarily European program for the benefit of broadening their educational and career horizons as well as gain valuable insight into international approaches to engineering design. These students commented that their experience was significant. However, meeting engineering senior design requirements in some cases was problematic due to the interpretation of ABET senior design requirements. This chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the possibility of EPS like-programs in the United States.