A model for International Industry-Academia collaboration

Summary form only given as follows. In 1993, Milwaukee School of Engineering developed, at the request of Rockwell Automation, a four week program for engineering students of Czech Technical University (Prague, Czech Republic) to study in the United States. The targeted students were electrical engineering students with a specialization in automatic control, or computer automated manufacturing who might be potential employees of Rockwell. MSOE proposal capitalized upon the excellent technical education of CTU and supplemented that foundation with an accelerated technical management program. Integrated into the course work were lectures on the products and procedures of Rockwell Automation as well as a wide variety of cultural and social experiences. In 1998, the 5 week program involved students from 9 countries (including China and Russia) representing 12 universities. Key components of the program-specifically the integration of technology with economics, humanities, and management science-have recently been described in a Czech technical publication as being representative of the university of technology of the next century. The program has proven to be of benefit to all three partners. Rockwell has made a major positive impression upon selected engineering students in key markets of Central/Eastern Europe and recently Asia. The MSOE-CTU collaboration now includes an annual faculty exchange program, and selected MSOE students participate in the summer program, then study at CTU for one semester. Further expansion of the student exchange program is being planned.