Benefits of a graduate international program

A program that includes international collaborations is proposed and implemented under the Alliance of Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Collaborations in education broaden the capabilities of students through the exposure to different mentors, cultures and working environments that provide powerful networks and experiences, which enhance the student's abilities as a scholar. The ability to tailor a program for a particular student is important for the success of the experience; thus giving each particular student the best environment, which in turn will provide intrinsic experiences for the development of the student. Two graduate students and an undergraduate have already completed the program; pursuing degrees at two different levels (doctorates and masters) in Sweden and Australia, respectively as part of their program based on the same home university at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Pros and cons are mentioned in order to provide a complete picture about the program. Mentors as well as students give their points of views on all the different aspects about the program. A new breed of graduate students is formed through this program, which breaks with traditional methods of obtaining a graduate degree as well as training.