24/7 Software Development in Virtual Student Exchange Groups: Redefining the Work and Study Week

A concept of time zone driven, 24/7-week software development in a Virtual Student Exchange (VSX) environment is being defined, developed and applied to explore reliable and efficient continuous modes of work/study processes. The overall goal is to assess the suitability and benefits of this innovative approach to teaching and learning in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes. This new methodology aims to address industry needs for training in international teaming, to enrich students´ experience, and to improve the quality of education in the participating institutions. The techniques and tools discussed here create an integrated framework for international collaboration among teaming groups of students in practice and team oriented engineering education. This paper also aims to justify the need, merits, and feasibility of the virtual collaboration student exchange teaching program between educational institutions separated by three 8- hour time zones: the Faculty of Electronic Engineering of the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland (WUT), the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA (UA) and the Faculty of Engineering, Software Engineering Group at University of Technology, Sydney, Australia (UTS). The paper defines the proposed methodology, reviews the tools and processes involved, and finally reports preliminary results.