| Abstract: | This paper describes a semester concerned with international student teamwork. Here we emphasize the development of technical as well as personal competencies. Participants have completed at least four academic semesters at university or college. Students are given an opportunity to use their acquired knowledge, to develop a deeper insight of technical subjects and integrate them through product development. One hundred and ninety-five students from 14 different countries have joined since the start in 1995. The paper reports our experience of product design implementation in an integrated engineering context. Design is not an isolated activity; it must be integrated with the entire spectrum of activities within the company. The designer must learn to appreciate the requirements of marketing and work within the bounds of available technology. The course teaches that collaboration and co-operation are vital activities of every designer. It is important to ensure that the product designed fulfils the market needs and can be manufactured competitively. A system to assess both individual contribution and group performance is reported. This semester has proved to be an effective way to develop skills needed and to develop students' international awareness alongside their enhanced technical skills. This semester contributes to developing European competitiveness. |
