This semester boasts the second-highest number of IE students to study abroad in one semester. Since 2014, Purdue IE’s study abroad program has really grown, according to IE Study Abroad Liaison Dr. Patrick Brunese. “We’re trying to change perceptions for global studies for IE,” he explains. “Also, it’s supplemented by scholarships through the university Big Moves initiative, making the entire experience more enticing for students.”

IE students benefit from study abroad experiences because they gain ability to understand and adapt to other cultures, a plus when working for global companies.

Interested students should start planning early in their college career in order to fit a study abroad opportunity into their plan of study. Brunese expects more IE students to study abroad, because of increased promotion and planning, more choices, Purdue and College of Engineering grants to support study abroad, and prioritizing relationships with international universities comparable to Purdue.

Most programs are for a short-term session such as Spring Break or Maymester, or a summer or a spring semester, but fall programs are also available in certain locations. New this spring is a Maymester program jointly offered by the Schools of IE and Nursing in conjunction with three universities in Colombia. The program is called “Engineering & Public Health in the Service Sector” and will compare healthcare service systems and public health emphases.

Already-established IE programs exist for semester programs at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tsinghua University in China, Universidad EAFIT in Colombia, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and Politecnico di Milano in Italy.

The Purdue Study Abroad Office offers many other destinations for Purdue students, including short-term programs in Australia, Italy, Germany, and China, and semester programs in China, Spain, Germany, Austria, Singapore, Australia, and Belgium, among others. However, for non-IE study abroad programs, students should work closely with IE advisors to ensure credits can be used to meet graduation requirements.

There are also opportunities for international internships through the Purdue Study Abroad Office as well as the Office of Professional Practice.

Contact the IE Study Abroad Liaison, Dr. Patrick Brunese, at pbrunese@purdue.edu for more information.