In recognition of International Education Week starting Nov. 17, Purdue Polytechnic is highlighting international engagement efforts and its Office of Globalization, which provides students with transformative experiences through a diverse portfolio of dual-degree programs, faculty-led study abroad opportunities and international research collaborations.
These programs are central to the college’s mission of preparing students to become innovative leaders with hands-on experience in an interconnected world that needs practical skills from upcoming generations of young industry leaders.
Globally integrated dual-degree programs
Purdue Polytechnic’s global strategy is spearheaded by dual-degree programs, which allow students to earn degrees from both Purdue and partner institutions abroad. A key partnership with Germany’s Reutlingen University enables students to earn a Master of Science in engineering technology from Purdue and a Master of Science in digital industrial management and engineering from Reutlingen.
The program leverages the state-of-the-art smart manufacturing facilities at both universities. "The Smart Factory on our campus was designed precisely the way it is because it’s transplanted from the German model on the Reutlingen campus," said Ragu Athinarayanan, a professor who helped lead the program's creation. "And that’s because the evidence from their outcomes is that it really works in job-preparedness and depth of knowledge.”
The Polytechnic also has a long-standing foundational partnership with the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima, Peru, where Purdue faculty helped design the university’s curriculum in applied engineering and created a pathway for UTEC students to earn a second bachelor’s degree at Purdue.
One-of-a-kind student experiences
The success of these immersive programs is best seen through the students themselves. Marco Buecheler is a German student whose educational path indicates how effective the Reutlingen program can be. After having a positive experience earning his dual master's degree, he has now returned to Purdue to pursue his Ph.D.
“Pursuing the Purdue-Reutlingen dual-degree program in engineering technology gave me the unique opportunity to earn two master's degrees from two top universities—one in the United States and one in my home country, Germany,” Buecheler said. “Having the possibility to conduct research in both learning factories enabled me to develop a better understanding of how global manufacturing environments work. The ability to build global networks with fellow students, faculty and companies here at Purdue was one reason for me to take the next step in my academic journey and pursue a Ph.D. in Technology.”
Alexis Kindred, who studied abroad in Peru and Chile, also shared how the experience shaped her worldview. "Being part of a study abroad program has profoundly influenced my perspective on life and future plans," Kindred said. "My experiences in Peru and Chile have deepened my appreciation for cultures I wasn't previously familiar with."
Taylor Hansen, who studied in Germany, noted the blend of professional and personal growth. "The university gave me the technical skills I needed for my career, and the city gave me the skills I needed for life," Hansen said. "I was enveloped in the German way of life, while making life-long friends from the four corners of the earth."
Hands-on skills through international faculty mentorship
Beyond the deep immersion of dual degrees, Purdue Polytechnic offers a wide array of faculty-led study abroad and industry tour programs. The "Commerce of Cars in Central Europe" Maymester program, led by Jim Tanoos, takes students through the heart of Germany and the Netherlands' automotive and logistics industries. "How can someone majoring in supply chain management be expected to expertly move a product around the world when they have never moved themselves in the world?", Tanoos said.
Similarly, Rustin Webster organized 12 different industry site visits for his students in a single academic year, with tours spanning from local Indiana manufacturers to international facilities in Peru and Chile. "These tours bring the curriculum to life," Webster said. "They allow students to see how materials and manufacturing concepts evolve into smart, interconnected systems."
Purdue Polytechnic’s countless international opportunities and partnerships are designed to provide students the space to develop along several paths at once. During International Education Week, it is noteworthy to highlight the variety of ways that Polytechnic students can gain the technical skills required for their field of expertise, while simultaneously developing the crucial cultural competencies that employers are increasingly seeking out.
Additional information
Learn more about Purdue Polytechnic’s Office of Globalization
