Best of Two Worlds: College of Engineering Develops Collaborative Study, Research Program in India

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Beginning next summer, six students in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas will gain a unique perspective by studying engineering in India. Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy, a private university in Tamilnadu, India, will host the students and a professor for a six-week summer pilot program. This is the university’s first study-abroad program in India, and is part of a larger collaboration with the academy that will include research projects and exchanges of graduate and undergraduate students who are engaged in collaborative research.

"This is an opportunity for students to begin to understand what globalization is all about," said Dean Ashok Saxena. "We are excited to enter this partnership with such a prestigious institution in India."

The students will take one engineering course and one humanities or social science course along with students from India. The UA College of Engineering professor will join with professors from the host institution to offer these classes. The group will also spend a week touring the country. A full program is planned to begin in the summer of 2007 and will be open to all UA students as well as students from other universities in the southeastern United States.

"More engineers will work for international companies, will have co-workers from other countries and may have managers or direct reports from other countries," said Saxena. "As educators, we have to make sure our graduates are visionaries and possess the necessary skills to execute that vision. That means ensuring they develop communication skills that transcend cultural backgrounds that they are prepared to travel and work effectively in other countries."

Financial assistance to study abroad is available for students who qualify. "Scholarships and financial aid typically can be applied to study abroad programs," said Carol Gattis, director of recruitment, retention and minority affairs. "Honors College study abroad grants, departmental scholarships and scholarships from the Office of Study Abroad are other ways that students can receive help."

Collaborative research efforts between the Shanmugha Academy, known by its acronym, SASTRA, and the University of Arkansas have already produced results. Vijay Varadan, a distinguished professor of electrical engineering who holds a graduate research chair, has already received $1.5 million in funding from SASTRA to collaborate in nanotechnology research and its applications to biosensors. The research activities involve the development of carbon nanotube- and nanowire-based wireless sensors on silicon and also on polymer substrate with flexible organic electronics at the UA’s newly added class 100 and class 10 clean rooms at the High Density Electronics Center. A clean room is a work area in which the air quality, temperature and humidity are highly-regulated in order to protect sensitive equipment from contamination, important in the production of silicon chips, microprocessors and other technologies. For example, a class 10 clean room means no more than 10 particles of dust per cubic foot.

"Projects such as these will provide our students with a unique opportunity to gain valuable research experience while simultaneously learning about international culture," said Saxena. "This will prepare them to effectively work in a global economy."