2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Microelectronics Research and Global Competencies: Unpacking Research Abroad Experiences of Engineering Students

Presented at Innovative Pedagogical Techniques in Engineering Education

Global competencies are essential for engineering students in today's globalized world. This work investigates this aspect of an International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF IRES: Interdisciplinary Research in Korea on Applied Smart Systems (IRiKA) recruited both undergraduate and graduate students with diverse backgrounds from four public and private US universities. Due to the constraints of the grant, only US citizens and permanent residents were eligible to apply. Over the duration of the grant, three cohorts were deployed. Due to the pandemic, the program did not run in 2020 and 2022. In all, 18 participants engaged in an 8-week research internship as part of the IRiKA program.

This study focuses on the experience of the 2023 cohort - specifically, a subset of the 2023 cohort that worked on microelectronics device projects. This study employed a qualitative methods approach anchored in the PISA 2018 Global Competence theoretical framework. By analyzing qualitative data from weekly blog post reflections and student interviews, this work aims to unpack the complex ways global competencies are cultivated among undergraduate and graduate engineering students with varying degrees of prior research experience. The findings of this research are expected to inform future engineering education practices, providing valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and institutions aiming to enhance the global competencies of their students through international research collaborations.

Authors

Chibuzor Joseph Okocha http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5411-160X University of Florida [biography]

Okocha Chibuzor Joseph is an ambitious Ph.D. student at the University of Florida, specializing in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in engineering Education and computer science education with a significant focus on global competence. His research, guided by Professor Gloria Kim, is at the forefront of educational innovation and aims to transform the landscape of learning in these technologically advanced fields.

Chibuzor embarked on his academic path at the University of Benin, earning his Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering. His undergraduate experience ignited a passion for blending technology with education, establishing a robust foundation for his research interests. In his doctoral studies under the mentorship of Professor Gloria Kim at the University of Florida, he is not only investigating the potential of AI in enhancing educational practices but also deeply exploring the aspect of global competence in engineering education. His research addresses the critical need for engineers who are technically proficient, culturally competent, and globally aware, preparing them to tackle international challenges effectively.
Gloria J. Kim University of Florida [biography]

Dr. Gloria Kim is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Education at the University of Florida (UF). She is also an affiliate faculty in UF's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She received her B.S. in chemistry from Seoul National University, M.S. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. As an instructional associate professor, she was awarded several grants from the National Science Foundation (IUSE Level 1, IRES Track 1, I-Corps, and I-Corps for Learning) as principal investigator. She transitioned to tenure track in Fall 2022 to pursue her research interests in convergence in engineering education, global engineering education, and social issues in STEM research and practice. Recently, she has taken on new NSF projects to broaden participation in quantum engineering (IUSE Level 3), research abroad (IRES Track 1), and use-inspired research (Convergence Accelerator Track I). Having grown up in Australia, Canada, Korea, and Germany, she speaks three languages. Leveraging her international connections, she has served in leadership positions in the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA, Vice President), Korean Society for Engineering Education (KSEE, International Relations Board Member), and the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES, Executive Committee Member).
Jin W. Choi Michigan Technological University
Prof. Yong Kyu Yoon [biography]

Yong Kyu Yoon is a professor in the Deoartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Florida. He has research interests in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), micro sensors and actuators, nanofabrication, and radio frequency and micro

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