Search

To adequately address the unprecedented challenges that our global society faces, the next generation of scientists and engineers must learn to navigate and collaborate with an understanding of the complex ways in which technical and social aspects are intertwined. In recent years, programs centered around Engineering for Sustainable Development, community engagement, and humanitarian engineering have been developed to provide students with opportunities that build essential skill sets known as Global Sociotechnical Competency. This work investigated the impact on intercultural competence of students engaging with globally focused courses and projects offered at The Ohio State University that are part of the Humanitarian Engineering program. Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies including the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), focus groups, surveys, and narrative analysis, were utilized to assess the student learning outcomes associated with these experiential learning opportunities. Findings from this work indicate that engineering students are able to simultaneously develop both technical and sociotechnical skill sets, which will more effectively prepare STEM graduates for their professional careers. This study detailed the impacts relating to intercultural competence for students enrolled in a Global Capstone course, a COIL Community Engaged Learning engineering course, and pathways of completion of the Humanitarian Engineering Minor. The Global Capstone series demonstrated meaningful impact on students interculture competence while achieving the desired technical learning outcomes of a traditional engineering capstone. The mean IDI Development Orientation (DO) gain was 12.89, (n=23, p

This thesis documents an initiative to build capacity in the African community of Marwa, Tanzania, towards the goal of bringing accessible water to Marwa Village. Over three years of the research project, three rainwater harvesting systems were installed in Marwa utilizing a hybrid design of local construction techniques and other introduced innovations. The three tanks provide 91,000 L of storage capacity and over 350,000 L of water use potential. The cost of the rainwater harvesting system was reduced and the constructability increased through efforts of planning, communication and technical innovations.