Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions
Conference Track: Engineering
Education
Keywords:
internships; research; engineering education
Contact Title:: Prof.
Contact First Name: Ismael
Contact Last Name: Pagan-Trinidad
University:
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Web:
http://civil.uprm.edu
Position:
Professor and Chirman
Country:
Puerto Rico-USA
Email:
ipagan@uprm.edu
Fax:
787-833-8260
Selection:
Definitely YES
Submit:
Submit
Date:
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Time:
09:44:41 PM
Paper Title:
UPRM-ERDC Summer Research Internship Program
Abstract:
Alternative learning has become one of the most important resources
for the achievement of the educational objectives in modern engineering
educational systems. Hands-on practice, professional practice, individual study,
creative competitions, e-education, Coop experiences, and many others have
enriched the traditional classroom education into a more attractive, more
effective, and more realistic learning processes for the engineering
students in present times.
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM) and the US Army
Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) have developed a unique
learning model through a Summer Research Internship Program (SRIP) for
over a decade. Talented
students from the UPRM participate in a 10 week summer program in the real
on-going research program at ERDC research facilities. Senior
undergraduate and graduate students are appointed in various challenging
projects that are selected by participating mentors from ERDC.
Research experiences vary from basic theoretical projects, to
mathematical numerical simulations and modeling, to laboratory and field
experimental work, to environmental and laboratory monitoring work.
The main objective of the program is to exposed undergraduate and
graduate students to learning experiences through formal research in a
real work environment. Students
are required to develop a proposal, monitor progress through continuous
progress reports, to present a final oral and written report, and to
address their learning experiences by writing their memoirs in a final
essay.
These learning experiences have proven to be an excellent
opportunity to motivate and prepare students for graduate school and to
pursue teaching and research careers.
It has also helped identify excellent candidates for ERDC job
positions. This model have been used by ERDC as their most effective
student related program and is envisioned as a model for other agencies
and laboratories in the Federal Government
Mailing Address:
Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Box 9041
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681
Phone:
Authors:
Ismael Pagan-Trinidad/ipagan@uprm.edu/University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez/(P)
Carlos Ruiz/Carlos.E.Ruiz@erdc.usace.army.mil/ Engineering
Research and Development Center-USArmy-CE
David Pittman /David.W.Pittman@erdc.usace.army.mil/
Engineering Research and Development Center-USArmy-CE