International partnership using remotely accessed labs

An international project between the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department at Purdue University and the HVAC Engineering Department at HTA Lucerne (Switzerland) is testing the limits of the remote access concept by creating a laboratory network that is separated by thousands of miles. Using Web-enabled HVAC equipment, U.S. students are determining the performance and return on investment for a heat recovery system that is physically located in Switzerland. The converse is also true, Swiss students have access to a variety of equipment located in the U.S. This remote access project is a good example of a sustainable partnership that adds an international perspective to undergraduate education. Although a relatively small number of students have visited the other institution in person, larger numbers of U.S./Swiss students are recognizing the globalization of engineering practice during routine laboratory work