Development of a Global Design Education Experience in Bioengineering Through International Partnerships

The field of engineering is increasingly appreciating the value of diversity for innovative design solutions. Successful engineering depends on our ability to explore constrained parameter spaces for finding the best solutions, and more diverse minds and experiences enable us to explore the entire potential solution space more thoroughly, more quickly, and more creatively. With a goal to expand the diversity of experiences and mindsets in our undergraduate bioengineering curricula, Arusha Technical College (ATC) in Arusha, Tanzania and Clemson University (CU) in Clemson, South Carolina, U.S., have partnered together over the past 5 years to provide intercontinental educational opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate assistants, and faculty. In 2018, CU and ATC collaborated on an international design course targeting undergraduate students in biomedical engineering focused on global health solutions for resource poor communities. Undergraduate students from ATC and CU collaborated on design projects through formal videoconferenced group meetings, e-mail, and various social media platforms. The year ended with a joint design symposium in Arusha where the students presented on their work in a public poster forum. This successful ATC-CU Global Health Design Collaboration pilot year provides a solid model upon which to build. Students reported overall positive experiences and plans to continue in their curriculum to graduation, as well as some ATC and CU students changing their career direction to include global health initiatives.