A New Joint Engineering Program Between Shanghai University Of Engineering Science And Lawrence Technological University

Abstract

This paper describes a new joint engineering program established in 2003 between the Shanghai University of Engineering Science (SUES) and Lawrence Technological University (LTU) located in Southfield, Michigan. This Bachelor of Science program in Automotive Engineering is offered by SUES. Eight courses in this program are delivered in China and taught in English by LTU faculty. Chinese students are exposed to at least one American professor teaching a LTU course each semester of this 8-semester program. The remaining courses for this program are taught in Chinese by local faculty from SUES. SUES issues the Bachelor of Science in Automotive Engineering degree and a Continuing Education Certificate is issued by Lawrence Technological University for students who complete this program. This program was established in response to the growing American Automotive presence in China and the need for Chinese engineering graduates who appreciate and understand a Western perspective of automotive engineering and business. Graduates of this program will be practicing automotive engineering in global automotive companies located in China. This paper describes the challenges, benefits, and rewards of this unique program addressing issues such as course equivalency, language barriers, cross cultural issues, and the challenges of staffing this program with qualified faculty. Background Lawrence Technological University, a private undergraduate and graduate institution located in the center of the Detroit Metropolitan Area, has an enrollment of nearly 5,000 students in day and evening degree programs and continuing education/professional development programs. Lawrence Tech has been a dynamic partner to the Detroit area’s engineering, manufacturing, and automotive industries for nearly 70 years. Lawrence Tech’s College of Engineering is the oldest and largest program at the university comprising nearly half the enrollment with programs of Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Computer Engineering. With close proximity to the headquarters of the world’s top automotive manufacturers, Lawrence Tech has a strong legacy in Automotive Engineering, which is offered as a concentration in its BSME program and at the graduate (Master of Science in Automotive Engineering) level degrees. Engineering, technology, and advanced manufacturing are becoming increasingly global. Nearly every technical product is designed, engineered, and/or manufactured globally. At some point in their career, most of today’s engineering graduates will likely be working on projects that require interfacing with engineers in other countries.