Experiential Learning through International Research Collaborations: A Study on Amphibious Aircraft Performance Focused on Amazon Rainforest Operation

An international collaboration between Pennsylvania State University (Penn State, University Park, PA, USA), the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and SENAI CIMATEC Higher Education School (CIMATEC, Salvador, Brazil) was established to computationally and experimentally study the performance of amphibious aircraft focused on operations in the Amazon Rainforest. Two students from each institution were selected to participate in the year-long project based on their academic background and interest in the topic, keeping in mind diversity and inclusion efforts. Each institution was responsible for leading a part of the project, promoting a highly integrated collaboration through individual and collaborative tasks and weekly virtual meetings. The students took a course offered by Penn State in Engineering Across Cultures, providing them with opportunities to practice English, establish relationships with students from other countries and expand their understanding of Engineering from the point of view of a highly globalized economy. The students from Penn State visited the teams and facilities in Brazil during Spring Break and the students from Brazil spent a month at Penn State working on wind tunnel tests, experiencing the everyday life of an American university and creating new bonds through immersion in the American academic culture. This work has provided experiential learning opportunities for diverse students to work from a global perspective.