Living and Learning Abroad
Life-changing Experiences
While each student in our program has unique experiences when living, studying, and working abroad, there is one recurring comment that virtually all of them share with us by the end of the year: "It changed my life." When you are meaningfully immersed in another language and culture for an extended period of time, significant opportunities for personal and professional growth arise.
Study Abroad
During a semester of full-time study, students take engineering, Spanish, and general education courses. They study at one of our exchange partner universities in Mexico and Spain (see below). Our agreements with these institutions allow students to immerse themselves in the academic culture abroad, by not only studying in another country but by taking courses with Spanish and Mexican students.
Engineering Internships
Following the semester of study abroad, students are placed in six-month, full-time engineering internships (most frequently in Spain or Mexico). Interns receive a cost-of-living stipend and work under the supervision of people in one of the many IEP corporate partner companies. Interns regularly write internship reports of their experiences in Spanish, which are shared with the students and faculty of the IEP back in Rhode Island, and for which they earn six credits toward the Spanish major.
Spanish IEP University Exchange Partners
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Monterrey, Toluca and Zona Sur Campuses) in Mexico (http://www.youtube.com/user/tecdemonterreyvideos)
Centro Politécnico Superior of the Universidad de Zaragoza in Zaragoza, Spain
TECNUN Campus of the Universidad de Navarra in San Sebastian, Spain (http://www.youtube.com/user/TECNUN)
Universidad de Cantabria in Santander, Spain.
Prospective Students
Living and Learning Abroad
Current students
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
More information
Dr. Megan Mercedes Echevarría
Professor & Director
Spanish International Engineering Program
p: 401.874.4698
f: 401.874.7088
e: mme@uri.edu
