Expanding Horizons: A Summer with the OPP
The Office of Professional Practice (OPP) at Purdue University has had an eventful and productive summer, with staff members traveling far and wide to strengthen partnerships, engage with students, and showcase Purdue's leadership in work-integrated learning. These highlights showcase the significant activities and achievements of our dedicated OPP members during the summer months, illustrating their commitment to enhancing global experiences for Purdue students.
During a trip to Germany, Jenny Strickland, Assistant Director, Co-op Programs & Student Development, and Joe Tort, Associate Director, visited Bonn, Hannover, Braunschweig, Magdeburg, and Berlin to connect with employer partners, university partners, current students, and alumni. They engaged with students studying abroad at German exchange partners and met with interns at Irish companies. Discussions focused on expanding global internships with Irish and German companies and research institutes, including the Institute for Space Engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig. At Leibniz University Hannover, Joe introduced Purdue University to students to grow participation in the dual degree master's program established between the two institutions. Jenny Strickland noted that a highlight of the trip was the Purdue students and alumni gathering in Berlin, where 15 students from six countries, collectively speaking 12 languages, showcased the diverse and global nature of the Purdue community.
During the week of June 24th, Jenny Strickland along with many Purdue staff members, traveled to Portland, Oregon, to attend the American Society for Engineering Education National Conference. A key aspect of the trip was connecting with various universities to showcase OPP's leadership in work-integrated learning. Jenny represented Purdue in her capacity as a board member of the Cooperative and Experiential Education Division (CEED) of ASEE and also worked at the Purdue booth in the exhibit hall to speak about OPP programs.
In Ireland, Joe Tort attended the International Internship Conference in Dublin, where he experienced a personal highlight: the Irish Cultural Evening with song and dance. During the conference, Joe presented to a full room on maximizing international internships through global competency training. He introduced the GEARE program and detailed the embedded global competency training, sharing six years of results showcasing remarkable growth in global competency for Purdue students and modeling activities for others to prepare their students for global experiences.
Sophie Tung, Semiconductor Co-op Program Manager, traveled to Taiwan to connect with Purdue partner universities (NCCU, NYCU, NCKU), alumni, and industry HR representatives (ASM, TSMC, MediaTek, TASA, and Applied Materials) for expanding GEARE opportunities across Taiwan. She also met with three Purdue students engaged in exchange and research programs. A personal highlight of the trip was utilizing various forms of transportation, including high-speed trains, the metro, buses, Uber, local taxis, cars, and electric scooters, to navigate the different locations. During her meetings, Sophie presented the Purdue GEARE program, ENGR 103 courses, and related certificates to vice presidents, directors, faculty members, and industry HR representatives, aiming to foster potential engagement and partnerships.
In the summer, Julie Peretin, Professional Practice Programs Administrator, plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation and efficiency of the office. She refreshes and organizes stocks of office supplies, keeps vital paperwork moving, and fulfills special requests. Julie also addresses a wide range of administrative needs, stepping up to maintain seamless operations while her colleagues are traveling for Purdue University educational events.
Written By: Margaret Mowrer