The objective is to prepare participants to better grasp the differences between what happens in their own countries and their own experiences, and those presented in the other geographic regions. 

The IIWE is not, however, expecting students to arrive at the sessions with a formal written report, but they should bring a good amount of written material (including their school catalogue) and statistics with them as this information will be used during their presentation.  This information will be included in the student’s journal (see journal below). There will be no time for the student to carry out this research in Paris during the sessions as students are expected to arrive at the IIWE and to “hit the ground running”.

Note to candidates:  You should begin your research as soon as you have been accepted to the program.  You could start, for example, with an in-depth conversation with the person who wrote your letter of recommendation.  Ask her/him where the above information can be found.

In addition, if you don’t have extensive industrial work experience, you will need to interview practicing engineers (female and male).  Ask them on how they carry out their projects, what are their local office practices, their relationship with the hierarchy.  Ask too about delegation of responsibilities, proper follow-up on projects, salaries, ethical standards, how “professionalism” is defined in their companies.

Group project: 40% of the final grade

On Monday, July 3rd, the composition of the small working groups will be announced.  The groups, comprised of representatives from as many professional cultures as possible, will be working together on a “sustainable development” project that will be prepared on July 19^th and then presented on the final day of the seminar, July 20th.  This is a “creativity project”, meaning that the exact topic will be announced only at the last minute… but students will be expected to incorporate seminar learning into their presentations.

Note to the candidates: this is a “group project”, meaning that everyone in the group will receive the same grade.

Intercultural mini-seminar 

A seminar on intercultural communications will better position participants to take full advantage of their experience in the richly multicultural IIWE 2006 group. It will also better prepare them for their future as international culturally aware engineers.

Personal presentations

All participants, faculty and staff will be given a few minutes in which they will introduce themselves to the others.  Although there is no set format to be followed (the IIWE encourages everyone to let their imaginations and natural inclinations be their guides), students will be required to use a poster as a visual support to their presentation.  More information on posters will be furnished once applications are accepted.

Note to candidates: We’d like to know who you are, your ambitions, maybe something about your hobbies, perhaps why you came to the IIWE, … anything you’d like to share with us would be welcome. 

The Personal Presentation is not, however, the moment to campaign for your favourite cause. This would be highly inappropriate.  Please remember that the IIWE is not a political or religious organization: people of all political and religious inclinations are welcome to be members of this institute.  As a reminder: very few of us are personally responsible for our respective government’s policies and actions.  Although we were all born into a particular situation in a specific moment in time, we did not ask that this be so.  We did not choose to create the existing problems but we can choose to be part of the solution.  The IIWE encourages diversity and respect, we feel this brings a deep and rich dimension to all our activities and aspirations.

And although the IIWE strongly supports women in engineering, it is not a rabid feminist organization either. Men actively support and participate in the organization of the IIWE, they have faculty posts in its sessions, and they are cordially invited to attend the IIWE as participants.  The IIWE feels that if women are to advance in engineering, they will do so only if they move forward together with men, and not against them.

Certainly during your personal presentation you can briefly mention your activities in any area (even political, religious, or feminist) if they are an important part of who you are.  But please save any campaigning on these three topics to the numerous (lively) conversations you will be having with the other members during the evenings when you are out on the town.

The IIWE will tell you the exact length of your presentation once we know how many participants will be attending the IIWE 2006.  Our expectation is that you will have around 3 minutes.  For those of you used to giving personal presentations, you know that if you are organized, you can get a LOT of information into a 3 minute slot.

The presentations will be timed in order to give everyone an equal opportunity.  You will be required to terminate your presentation precisely when your time has expired (mid-sentence!), even if you have not finished.  Please prepare accordingly.  We advise you to practice this presentation, timing yourself to make sure you get all the important points in the allocated time. 

A word to the wise: be advised that talking fast is not a good tactic.  No one will understand you  (particularly if you have a strong regional or foreign accent) and you will have wasted a “communication” opportunity.  Rather chose your information carefully and present it in a clear, varied, and interesting way.             

It will not be possible to use an electronic presentation or to show slides.  Please be advised that the time it takes you to set up your poster will be included in your allocated presentation time. 

Panel Discussion

Panel discussions will include practicing engineers who will be there to share with you, in a candid and “non politically correct” manner,  how they view their pasts, presents and futures as well as pass on advice from those “who have been there”.

Industrial/university visits

Industrial visits in the Parisian region are being organized and announced in the schedule.

Note to candidates: Please remember that working engineers are very busy people.  They will be giving up their time in order to receive us and explain what happens in their industry and laboratories.  After we leave their sites, they will rush back to work to make up the time they have lost.  Please prepare your questions carefully to best take advantage of this unique opportunity.  Also, if you think you would be interested in working or carrying out an internship with these companies or university, be sure you have brought a copy of your CV with you.

The Journal:   40% of the final grade

Students will be asked to keep a daily record of the happenings of the day, reflecting on what they have learned or experienced and how they were affected.  All “Pre-Program Preparation” information collected by the students before leaving their countries will be included in an annex.  The journals will be handed in on Tuesday, July 19th, to be returned on Thursday, July 21^st.

Note to candidates: As a guideline, here are a number of questions that that could serve as starting points for a day’s reflection:

IIWE: in session experiences

A.) What did I learn today?

B.) Were my expectations of today's activities realised? If not:

1.) did I learn something that was useful or interesting?

2.) did this add to my knowledge of life/ engineering/ people/ to all      three?

3.) did today’s session make me reflect on how I view a           certain situation?

4.) was what I learned today going to be useful in a work situation?

C.) What did I enjoy (and not enjoy) about today's sessions? 

D.) How could today's activities have been more useful for me?

How could I have been more instrumental in making today’s activities more useful to me?

IIWE: after hours

A.) Had I expected to meet so many participants from entirely different backgrounds to myself?

B.) How many new contacts did I make today? Am I reaching out enough?

C.) What do I find interesting about these new acquaintances?

- Have these new friends made me re-think my lifestyle at home, my work culture?

- Have my interactions with these new friends made me think about my value judgements?

D.) How would I react if I were suddenly sent to their country to work? 

- Do I now know enough about their culture to be effective?

Thanking Your Sponsors:

This session is reserved for participants who wish to acknowledge their sponsors.

Note to candidates: This is a special and joyous moment of the session: everyone is very happy to thank those people (including thanking themselves or their grandmothers), institutions and industries that have helped them to attend the IIWE. It is also the moment when we can learn more about these sponsors and their activities. Again, equal time will be given to each speaker and the amount of time allocated will depend on the number of people wishing to give thanks. 

Questions during the sessions:

Each speaker will announce at the beginning of her/his session how questions will be handled.

Note to candidates: In certain cultures, many professors say that they can quickly tell the level of their new students by noticing the quality and quantity of questions they are asked on the first day of class.  This is certainly IIWE’s culture. 

As the IIWE recruits top students, we are definitely expecting you to ask our speakers a LOT of  top quality questions.  As an indication: to get the most out of your stay at the IIWE, ideally each participant would ask each speaker at least one question, either during the question sessions or during the breaks. 

Grades and Credits:

The final grade:

Breakdown of the final grade is as follows:

Journal:                                                 40%

Group project/presentation:         40%

Attendance*:                                                       10%

Participation - poster**:                                 10%

Note to candidates:

*  IIWE members will sign in every morning and afternoon

** To determine your “participation” grade, the faculty will take a number of activities/items into consideration, such as: your personal presentation, group work, questions during the session, general attitude, etc.

Completing the course for credit:

Once students return home, they:

·         make at least one formal presentation of activities of the IIWE to students and faculty at their own institution.

Note to the candidate: The objective is to share the information and knowledge you have acquired at the IIWE.

·         visit at least one middle or secondary school in their region to promote women in engineering.

Note to the candidate:  The desired results would be to encourage young female students to enter engineering.

Credits

6 ECTS credits (or 3 US credits) will be granted for successful completion of this course.  “Successful completion” is defined as:

·         having obtained at least a “C” grade on work during the sessions, and

·         proof that two formal presentations were undertaken (see “completing the course for credit” above)

Fees/Expenses/Financing

Fees

IIWE 2006 tuition is 600 euros and will cover:

§         participation in the program

§         program materials

§         a July local public transportation pass

§           double occupation dormitory fee  from June 30th^st  – July 21^st

§          some lunches

All participants will be financially responsible for:

§         meals (with the exception of reception lunches)

§         transportation to and from  France

§         transportation between train stations/airports and the dormitory

§         participation in the student parties

§         personal expenses

§         insurance issues: health insurance, repatriation and civil liabilities

Payment

Your acceptance into the IIWE 2006 program will be confirmed once the IIWE has received your international bank transfer covering tuition and housing.

Details you will need to give your bank to effect your international bank transfer:

Identify your transfer:

On the form provided by the bank, on the “object” (or “subject”) line, put

your name + CIEW 2006

(This is important!  We need it to identify and trace your funds once they arrive)

School address:

Fondation EPF

3 bis rue Lakanal

92330 Sceaux, France

Bank details :

Bank : 10207

Window: 00045

Account number : 04045001697

Key : 57

Location: BICS Sceaux

International Bank Account Number – Bank Identification Code:

FR 76  1020  7000  4504  0450  0169  757  CCBPFRPPMTG

Projected total expenses for IIWE 2006

Tuition Fee:                                          600 euros

Meals*:                                                  250 euros

Transportation Paris **                  25 euros (average rate)

Total:                                                     875.00 euros (travel costs to and from France not included)

 &nbs