Student Diversity in Engineering Education: Insights to Build a Glocal Program

Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2012), Marrakesh, Morocco, April 17 - 20, 2012 (ISBN 9781467314565)

8 Pages Posted: 9 Sep 2012

See all articles by Giustina Secundo

Giustina Secundo

University of Salento

Gianluca Elia

University of Salento - Department of Engineering for Innovation

Alessandro Margherita

Department of Engineering for Innovation - University of Salento

Giuseppina Passiante

Universita di Lecce

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

This article investigates the impact of cultural and professional diversity of students on engineering education. A study of international post-graduate programs is used to obtain insights with reference to student's relationships with colleagues, school staff and faculty, student's cognition about the program and learning process. The article shows how cultural and professional diversity can be addressed by leveraging a strategy based on interdisciplinarity, action learning and open learning environment. Findings are used to envision a model favoring the adoption of a “glocal” approach in the design of engineering programs. The model can be of value for practitioners and educators involved in the creation of multicultural learning initiatives to address the culture-specific needs of students while adhering, at the same time, to the global trends in engineering education.

Keywords: action learning, cultural diversity, glocalization, interdisciplinarity, engineering education, multicultural education, student diversity

JEL Classification: I20

Suggested Citation

Secundo, Giustina and Elia, Gianluca and Margherita, Alessandro and Passiante, Giuseppina, Student Diversity in Engineering Education: Insights to Build a Glocal Program (2012). Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2012), Marrakesh, Morocco, April 17 - 20, 2012 (ISBN 9781467314565), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2143594

Giustina Secundo

University of Salento ( email )

via Taranto 35
Piazza Tancredi, N.7
Lecce, Lecce 73100
Italy

Gianluca Elia (Contact Author)

University of Salento - Department of Engineering for Innovation ( email )

Via per Monteroni, sn
Campus Ecotekne
Lecce, Lecce 73100
Italy

Alessandro Margherita

Department of Engineering for Innovation - University of Salento ( email )

via Taranto 35
Piazza Tancredi, N.7
Lecce, Lecce 73100
Italy

Giuseppina Passiante

Universita di Lecce ( email )

Viale Gallipoli, 49
73100 Lecce, lecce 73100
Italy

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