Dream big – Ideal global
career preparation
program for engineering
undergraduates
Dr. Kristine Lalley, Director, International Engineering Initiatives,
Swanson School of Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
What would an
ideal global
career
preparation
program for
engineering
undergraduates
look like?
Cooperative Education (Co-op) –
rotational career and education
experience for undergraduates
Student goes to school for a semester,
works full-time for a semester, returns to
school for a semester (called “rotations”) –
over the course of the full degree program
Why cooperative education as an ideal
global career preparation program? Isn’t
co-op a domestic career experience?
Making
cooperative
education a
global career
preparation
experience –
what are the
steps for an
institution?
Institution should closely partner with
global companies that are very interested
in its students; define what a global co-op
student would need as qualifications
Institution should work closely with
companies to build a structure of global
co-op – whereby student works rotations
domestically to build reputation for
global career potential
If possible, send student overseas for
final rotation – but not required!
Making
cooperative
education a
global career
preparation
experience –
what are the
steps for an
institution?
Institution should mentor students very
early in the process – helping them to
identity global career interests and
matching them to appropriate employers
Institution should work closely with
employer to ensure continuity in what a
student does for the duration of co-op,
even overseas (if student goes overseas)
What do
students need
to do to make
cooperative
education a
global career
preparation
experience?
First, students need to be empowered to
discuss global career aspirations early on
with a potential co-op employer – but
first, prove themselves worthy!
Students need to work hard domestically
and show their potential for global
projects
Students need to be flexible – employers
might have to change course with
placement overseas at anytime
Examples of
ideal global
cooperative
education
programs
 University of Cincinnati:
https://www.uc.edu/propractice/uccoop/em
ployers/employer_icp.html
 Drexel University: http://drexel.edu/scdc/coop/international/
 World Association of Cooperative Education
(WACE): http://www.waceinc.org/
 BMW USA:
https://www.bmwusfactory.com/careers/stu
dent-programs-careers/bmw-cooperativeeducation-program/