International Innovation and Collaboration: A Joint US-Italy Master's of Engineering Degree Program

Our world relies on engineers to maintain and increase the standard of living for its peoples. Unfortunately, there has been a steady decline worldwide in the number of students enrolling in engineering programs. As a result, there are not enough engineers in the world that are able to meet the challenges and opportunities that arise. To address this need, the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) and the University of Naples Federico II (UniNa) are developing unique international joint Master's of Engineering degree program. This program is not only an innovative mechanism to produce engineers with a global perspective, but is also path that can be followed by practicing engineers to update their knowledge. The focus of the proposed program will be on the engineering disciplines affecting the design and construction of the built infrastructure and will target a graduate level audience. In this paper we describe and discuss the need and justification for such a program, its key features, and the educational technologies required for its delivery. Curriculum content is discussed as are the administrative arrangements needed for its implementation.