Mechanical engineering majors Jill Hahl '97 and Brian Smallwood '97 will join forces this fall with two students from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey,-via the
Internet for a “trial run” of Union's Virtual Term Abroad.
The term is a real-time, computer-based design experience that allows Union students to work interactively on a design project with students in another country.
The Union team, advised by Ron Bucinell, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has started setting up a design studio equipped for international communication. Other challenges, Bucinell says, include the time difference and cultural biases.
Richard Kenyon, dean of engineering, who has led efforts to begin the project, says that this program is likely to become a part of the new engineering curriculum. A major goal of the curriculum is to provide all engineering students with international experience.