This project demonstrated how undergraduate engineering students can successfully study while fully immersed in at least two different languages and with limited language training in a third language, while attending universities in three countries. The students satisfied the BSME degree requirements in two of these countries with no delay relative to a single BSME degree and the participating students’ transition into a potential masters program. This project was the first transatlantic dual Bachelor of Science degree program contained entirely within the field of engineering. The project’s second goal is to demonstrate that the main goal can be achieved without delaying graduation, to the extent that it delays the start of a subsequent masters program.

Each participating student was slated to spend approximately 16 months abroad, and earn their second BSME degree from the university where they spent their senior (final) year. A group of VT students were scheduled to spend a semester at KTH and their senior year at TUD; another VT group was slated to spend semester at TUD and their senior year at KTH. Additionally a group of TUD students were scheduled to spend a semester at KTH and their senior year at VT and a cohort of KTH students were scheduled to spend a semester at TUD and their senior year at VT.

The VT->TUD and TUD->VT dual BSME degree programs have been approved, and the students in first cohort in each program have successfully graduated. VT was reviewed by ABET in October 2008 and the international engineering degree was approved—the first certified dual degree program in the United States.

Admission to the program at TUD is competitive, with a 20-25% acceptance rate among students already enrolled in their BSME program. The TUD enrollment is limited by the number of VT students participating. The regular recruiting of VT students started in August 2008; currently four students in the class of 2010 and 12 U.S. students in the class of 2011 are pursuing the VT->TUD dual BSME degree program. Of these 16 students, seven declined support due to the time and cost of visiting KTH (e.g., loss of summer job opportunity and high cost of out-of-state tuition). Though disappointing, the persistence of these seven students demonstrates that the fundamental VT->TUD dual BSME degree program is sustainable. The current goal is to grow the VT participation to 15 students in the class of 2011, 25 students in the class of 2012, and 35 students in the class of 2013.

Development of the VT->KTH and KTH->VT dual BSME degree programs is delayed and will not be completed within the timeframe of the grant, in part because KTH has revised its priorities concerning education-abroad activities. However, KTH will continue to support VT and TUD student visits to KTH for the duration of the grant program.

ONLINE REFERENCE: 

VT-TUD dual BSME degree handout for US students (class of 2011)
   http://www.tud.vt.edu/BS/ATLANTIS-TUDhandout2011.pdf  

Jan Helge Bøhn
Project Director
U.S. Lead

Virginia Polytechnic
  Institute and State
  University
Mechanical Engineering 0238
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Tel: 540-231-3276
Fax: 540-231-9100

View Personal Web Site

Manfred J. Hampe
European Lead

Technische Universität
  Darmstadt
Petersenstraße 30
D-64287 Darmstadt
Germany
Tel: 49-6151-16-2164
Fax: 49-6151-16-4516

View Personal Web Site

Eva Engström
European Partner

Royal Institute of
  Technology
School of Industrial
  Engineering and Management
KTH - Drottning Kristinas
  väg 25
SE-100 44 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: 46-8-790-7659
Fax: 46-8-24-0194

Lars Hagman
European Partner

Kungliga Tekniska högskolan
  (Royal Institute of
  Technology)
School of Industrial
  Engineering and Management
KTH - Dep. of Machine Design
SE-100 44 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: 46-8-790-7448
Fax: 46-8-723-1730

Mats Hanson
European Partner

Royal Institute of
  Technology
KTH - Osquars backe 31
SE-100 44 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: 46-8-790-6309
Fax: 46-8-790-9669