Virtual International Innovative Program on Sustainable Engineering: Lessons Learned from a Successful U.S.-Perú Collaborative Effort
Conference
Chang, CM, Raheem, AA. (2021). Virtual International Innovative Program on Sustainable Engineering: Lessons Learned from a Successful U.S.-Perú Collaborative Effort
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Chang, CM, Raheem, AA. (2021). Virtual International Innovative Program on Sustainable Engineering: Lessons Learned from a Successful U.S.-Perú Collaborative Effort
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Being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, innovative educational solutions are needed to provide global educational experiences to undergraduate students. In Summer 2020, a US-Peru collaborative effort was conducted using virtual platforms to deliver a Sustainable Engineering and Leadership Practices (SELP) program. In previous years, the SELP program included face-to-face sessions with interactive technical, cultural, and social activities. The SELP program focuses on engineering and management challenges to address societal needs. The technical sessions cover sustainability principles and engineering practices following a problem-based solution approach. Emphasis is placed on the importance to communicate the short, medium, and long-term consequences of engineering solutions to decision-makers and society. Practical real-world examples are presented to illustrate the concepts learned in the course. The cultural activities include visits to museums and local heritage sites while the social activities involve cuisine, sports, and local attractions. With the participation of thirty students in a virtual environment, binational teams were assembled and developed projects to address sustainability problems affecting their communities. This paper summarizes the lessons learned and what led to a successful well-rounded educational experience with virtual technical, cultural, and social interactive sessions.
