Brazilian engineering exchange program

This paper presents the external, summative evaluation findings of the ldquoInternational Teams in Engineering Industrial Projects: A Cooperative Manufacturing and Production Engineering Programrdquo, funded by the Fund for Improving Postsecondary Education (FIPSE): Special Focus Projects from 1 September 2002 to 31 August 2007. The project was a collaborative between two US universities in North Carolina and two universities in Brazil, and involved student exchanges to the respective countries, where students studied engineering coursework. During the evaluation, relevant documents were analyzed, interviews were held with the project PIs, and those students who had participated in the exchange visits to Brazil were surveyed. Evaluation findings are presented in relationship to the project objectives and other unanticipated outcomes. Overall, the exchange program was successful in achieving its objectives.