Global Projects with a Global Scope!
"Educating the Next Generation of Engineers for the Global Workplace"

Continental Started the Global Engineering Internship Program

Continental AG starts the Global Engineering Internship Program (GEIP):

The first big step of the implementation of international engineering studies at universities worldwide started in 2008 with the Global Engineering Internship Program. About 20 Students from the participating GEE-Universities participated in the program.

Continental organizes for the selected students international assignments in the form of a cross country exchange. The internship positions are located Germany, USA, China, Japan, Romania, Sweden and France and lasts probably 3 to 6 months.

The selected students become part of an international network from the start, where they get in contact with students from the GEE-Universities. This network is established through a workshop in Europe at one of the plants of Continental where all Global Engineering Students come together and get to know each other.

During this workshop the GEIP-Students visit a plant of Continental, discus with senior management and senior engineers as well as attending an intercultural workshop.

The goal is to get the experience in working in international teams on certain engineering topics, supported by the coaching from Continental professionals.

Please view the Powerpoint Presentation below to learn more about the origin of the Global Engineering Internship Program.

 

 

Purpose

The purpose of the GEIP is to offer students worldwide (from the consortium of participating schools) a possibility to have an international internship experience in a global context in an effort to better prepare today’s students to work effectively in a global economy after graduation, which therefore assists companies in finding tomorrow’s leaders. The GEIP brings together some of the world’s leading technical universities and companies with a global outlook from different industry sectors. In this way, GEIP builds a real partnership between academia and industry. The common goal is to educate the global engineer of the future who will be able to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of the global economies, who is better prepared to switch effortlessly back and forth between different societies and who can make a real impact in solving global problems.

To this end the Global Engineering Internship Program:

  • Establishes a global network of students, universities and companies
  • Defines areas of knowledge, skills and attitudes for a globally competent engineer
  • Offers globally-oriented international internships with mentoring by industry
  • Offers an educational infrastructure before, during and after the internship by universities
  • Assesses the academic infrastructure, internship environment and student learning outcomes
  • Performs research on how to instill global competence in engineering students

The companies (consortium of participating companies – Continental at this moment) are requested to provide internship positions worldwide in some of their geographically dispersed facilities, giving the students the opportunity to work on projects with a global scope. The main purpose is to allow students to gain insights into the global dynamics of such projects. The internship should be accompanied by a curriculum developed for GEIP. A syllabus should consist of reading materials related to globalization, inter-cultural aspects, and international project management. Homework assignments will have to be completed prior to departure (i.e. “introduction to fellow GEIP participants”) or during the internship (i.e. “assignment on the global scope of the internship”). Interviews of co-workers who are role models for global engineers will be conducted by students. All materials will be posted on a website accessible to GEIP participants and delegates.

In this way, while developing and accompanying specific technical tasks, the students are also educated about the global dimensions of their internship experience and develop an academic framework of reference. In addition, they will be attending GEIP group meetings like the kick-off event where all students are brought together and have the opportunity to listen to lectures given by companies on their international strategies or the way they developed as a global company. Students will then also engage in intercultural training activities, tour a facility of the hosting company, work on case studies related to the topic, and share their international internship experiences with one another. Students will be able to form a network of like-minded students from around the world.

 

Program Advantages: Universities, Industries, and Students

Below you will find a short list of advantages from joining the Global Engineering Excellence Initiative (GEE) and Global Engineering Internship Program (GEIP). Very few internship programs offer the combination of academic excellence and industry expertise to “educate the next generation of engineers for the global workplace”.

 

University Benefits

  • Improving the quality of the engineering graduate pool
  • Ability to set quality benchmarks for global engineering education
  • Increasing attractiveness of engineering programs
  • Establish strategic linkages with leading global companies
  • Enhance knowledge transfer between academia and industry
  • Gaining global visibility as a member of a network of leading engineering schools
  • Networking with likeminded top universities around the world
  • Pathway to adapt engineering curricula to global engineering practice

 

Industry Benefits

  • Access to recruit top technical students from around the world.
  • Improving the quality of the engineering graduate pool.
  • Low-cost, low-risk means to recruit future leaders.
  • Access to engineering faculty and universities from around the world.
  • Ability to set quality benchmarks for global engineering education.
  • Help shape the future of engineering education through the participation in the international research project of the program.
  • Access to a like-minded global network.
  • Gain global visibility among students.
  • Increase global marketing exposure.
  • Achieve preferred partnership status at universities.
  • Opportunity to host the annual meeting.

 

Student Benefits

  • Participation in a distinguished program that reflects cutting-edge global engineering practice
  • Association and interaction with a highly selective group of engineering students from the best technical universities around the world
  • Benefit from established curriculum to develop global engineering competence
  • Profit from global learning community
  • Profit from global learning community
  • Close advising and mentoring from university and corporate partner
  • Develop foreign language skills and intercultural competence
  • Enhanced career preparation
  • Networking with international professionals
  • Membership of a life-long alumni network

     

    Eligibility: Universities, Industries, and Students

    Below you will find a short list of requirements to join the Global Engineering Excellence Initiative (GEE) and Global Engineering Internship Program (GEIP).

     

    University Requirements

    • A selected number of excellent students can participate. Universities select the students on the basis of criteria which will be defined in the second step.
      Possible Requirements
      • Language skills
      • Academic performance
      • Interpersonal skills
      • Matches students career plans
    • A. In this first year, all participating universities do the selection process directly with Continental via direct communication. The company then conducts an interview and gives a final “yes” or “no.” All of the “no’s” go up for re-election either for a different position in the company or for the host university to elect another student.
      B. In the following years, the universities select one student per open position. The company then conducts an interview and gives a final “yes” or “no.” All of the “no’s” go up for re-election to all of the university partners to nominate an intern for the position.
    • Advise students prior to internship regarding practical organization of internship (travel, health and repatriation insurance, etc)
    • Universities offer specific courses with a global context to prepare these students. These courses ideally take place during the academic year before students leave their home institution for the internship
      • International Project Management and Team Competence
      • Intercultural training for a global Working Environment
      • Global issues (For example, international relations, global economics, world trade, etc)
      • Language
    • Student kick-off week organized by universities and industries.
    • Participate in the development and execution of the monthly events.
    • Conduct and collect evaluations from students individually and as a group.

    Industry Requirements

    • Be a company which develops, produces and supports products and services internationally.
    • Provide at least 20 engineering internships per year ranging from 12 to 26 weeks .
    • Provide an international project in which the student will a) go abroad, and b) interact physically or virtually with people from other cultures and countries outside of the host company culture/country.
    • Encourage an internship environment in which students can gain second language capability.
    • Appoint a supervisor for the intern who will mentor the student and will be responsible for evaluating the student’s performance.
    • Appoint a student or community relations mentor for the intern.
    • Offer interns compensation that at minimum covers the cost of living including transportation to work, health insurance, and the cost of travel to/from the host company country.
    • Provide the project work for the intern at least 3 months before the internship commences.
    • Provide necessary documents and associated fees for work permits and visas for students.
    • Contribute to the academic curriculum to prepare students for the international internship.
    • Appoint an official representative and advocate for the program who must attend at least one event per year, typically the kick-off meeting.
    • Participate in ongoing research and analysis of the program and its components.

    Student Requirements

      • University Standing: Must be pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD degree. Undergraduate (BS) students should have completed at least 2 years of academic studies when they start their internship.
      • Major: Students must have declared an approved Engineering or Science discipline as their Major Field of study.
      • GPA Requirements: The Grade Point Average will vary by University. Please contact your local GEIP Program Coordinator for further details.
      • Language Requirement: A thorough command of English is the only requirement to participate in the Program. However, knowledge of other languages is highly recommended and will greatly aid your candidacy with the Selection Committee.

         

        Additional Student Requirements

        • Outstanding academic performance and exceptional interpersonal skills.
        • Engineering-related academic background.
        • Advanced undergraduate and graduate students.
        • Prior academically related work experience.
        • Proficiency in English, other language skills an advantage.
        • Commitment to participating in formal curriculum prior, during and after the internship.
        • Willingness to participate in virtual learning community prior, during and after the internship.
        • Submit final report, including reflective self-assessment on their development as input to GEE research.
        • Willingness to serve as ambassadors for the program and as mentors for future students.