As organizations develop global markets, the need for engineers to be aware of cultural differences becomes important. Virginia Tech's College of Engineering has encouraged international exchange programs and short-term study tours for our students since the early 1980's. The traditional exchange programs reach only a few students who have maintained their language study in college. We are searching for programs which will expose many students to an engineering experience involving teamwork with engineers of another country. The objective is to expose American and European engineers to each other to develop an early appreciation for the differences in engineering education, approach to problem solving, and culture. Our secondary objective is to encourage students from both continents to consider study or work in another country. We are experimenting with collaborative design projects between Virginia Tech engineering seniors and final-year engineering students in France and Germany. The design topic is chosen early in the fall semester of the senior year by teams of students in industrial, mechanical, electrical and aerospace engineering. Throughout fall semester, communicating through e-mail, fax, and video conference, faculty and students at three European schools are included in the analysis and resolution of topic involving design. Then, the Virginia Tech students travel to Europe as a group of design teams for 7 days during either Thanksgiving or Winter break. The Virginia Tech students and their faculty advisors meet personally with their European counterparts every day of that week. The European schools host the Virginia Tech students in their residence halls and student dining halls, provide classroom and laboratory space, and schedule speakers and tours of local industry and cultural sites. The final day of the week is devoted to the combined Virginia Tech/European team presenting their design project status to the entire group of students and faculty involved. A smaller group of students--2 Virginia Tech students and 2 German students--work together for six months. The Virginia Tech students travel to Germany in mid-May working on a project in Germany until mid-August. The German students travel to Virginia Tech in mid-August working on the project until mid-November. From Virginia Tech, 30 industrial, 5 mechanical, 15 aerospace, and 2 electrical engineering students are directed by 3 industrial, 1 mechanical, 1 electrical, and 1 aerospace faculty. From the European side, an equal number of students and faculty in similar disciplines are involved. The Virginia Tech College of Engineering funds the travel and operational expense of the program from private funds earmarked for international opportunities. Our partners in Europe are: Ecole des Mines de Nantes, Nantes, France, Ecole National Superiere d'Ingeniurs de Construction Aerospatiale, Toulouse, France, and Fachhochschule Bochum, Bochum, Germany.

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