International engineering education through collaboration

Graduate Engineers are required to work within a world market in which not only is there a requirement for knowledge of a technical nature, but also a working understanding of other spoken languages and cultures. The European Community has encouraged member States to participate in student and staff exchange programmes through their ERASMUS and SOCRATES schemes. This paper discusses the establishment and operation of a European Studies programme in Mechanical Engineering which was developed with partner Institutions within Europe. The programme has operated successfully for over ten years and has enabled Engineering students to graduate with two European degrees, advanced language skills and an understanding of other countries working and business cultures. The success of the programme has been due to a true "credit recognition" by the participating Institutions, which has enabled students to flow between Institutions, work within industry in different countries and graduate without extension of the normal study period.