International Summer Program in Railroad Engineering

The railroad industry has identified a need for engineers as many will be retiring over the next few years and freight rail traffic is predicted to increase. The challenge is finding engineers from university campuses, where careers and education in railroad engineering have been forgotten. Michigan Tech University saw a unique opportunity for innovative six-credit summer program that combines introductory railroad engineering with cultural and language studies and includes a study-abroad component. The railroad industry is supporting the program by providing guest lecturers, industry-hosted technical tours and scholarships. The program has increased students´ excitement toward rail careers and allowed them to experience and compare two different rail systems and cultures. The industry has responded by setting up summer internships for program participants and by hiring several of them for full time positions. This paper will highlight the features of the program, the outcomes, future opportunities, successes and lessons learned in setting up an escorted study abroad experience in engineering