February 8, 2012. A thick, wet snow coats the tree branches, sidewalks and roofs of the University of Kentucky. What has been a mild winter in Lexington is forecasted to turn colder. Students trudge to classes, fogged breath and impatient sniffles bearing unhappy witness to the changes occurring so close to spring.
Meanwhile, four biosystems and agricultural engineering majors are studying in Brazil. Temperatures in Viçosa, home to Universidade Federal de Viçosa, are akin to July in North America. The students are gaining invaluable experience by studying agricultural engineering in a cross-cultural environment. Even better—their semester in Brazil is fully funded!
FIPSE—the Fund for Improvement of Post-Secondary Education—is a joint project between the United States and Brazilian governments that provides money for an exchange program between the two countries. Students involved in the program receive a stipend that covers their expenses and typically does not interfere with a student’s graduation date. To date, only biosystems and agricultural engineering students have participated in FIPSE; however, the program is open to all engineering students.
“We primarily work with two universities in Brazil,” says biosystems professor Dr. Timothy Stombaugh. “Universidade Federal de Viçosa is geared toward agriculture studies—agricultural engineering is actually the only engineering discipline taught at the university—and Campina Grande offers engineering, but not agriculture. Because the program has afforded the possibilities for such synergy, we have welcomed several mechanical and electrical engineering students from Brazil to our campus.”
Graduate student Sam Mullins, who studied in Brazil during the 2008 fall semester, appreciates that he had the opportunity to observe engineering applied in a different context. “Immersing myself in Brazilian culture, meeting new people and living life as a Brazilian was the perfect way for me to learn and appreciate the importance of engineering—particularly in agriculture—as a way to help a rapidly developing country progress faster”
One of the differences between the American and Brazilian students in the program is proficiency with the host country’s primary language. Whereas Brazilian students arrive at UK with a strong command of English, their American counterparts often know little Portuguese. To help the students gain facility with Portuguese, students participating in the spring semester leave approximately eight weeks prior to the start of the semester and take part in a language immersion experience. As a result, students are more equipped to interact with faculty and understand the technical aspects of the course lectures and labs.
Dr. Stombaugh says between 50-60 Brazilian students apply for the program each semester and, given the stringent entrance requirements for biosystems and engineering students at Universidade Federal de Viçosa and Campina Grande, those accepted into FIPSE are the universities’ top students.
“The Brazilian students understand the value of an education outside Brazil,” he explains, “They know that to succeed in the world and in global economies, they need to gain exposure outside their own country. While they are here, they make contacts, gain knowledge and broaden their horizons. We would like to build that same desire into our students.”
Students interested in obtaining more information about FIPSE can contact Dr. Stombaugh at (859) 257-3000 x214 or tim.stombaugh@uky.edu.