Interventions to enhance multinational collaborative projects as a project-based learning experience

Abstract

Multinational collaborative projects have been used as a project-based learning approach to prepare students with professional and global skills in engineering. However, the implementation of those projects is challenging due to the complexity of having students geographically dispersed, with different languages, cultures, time zones, and backgrounds, and using information and communication technology (ICT) tools to facilitate collaboration in a multinational project. The purpose of this work is to identify relevant issues affecting the effectiveness of multinational collaborative projects as a project-based learning experience and provide the corresponding interventions to improve such academic practice. Expected outcomes of the interventions are summarized and examples of the results of some interventions already implemented are presented. The challenge of dealing with different issues inherent in this type of initiative can jeopardize the learning experience of the students, transforming what can be a positive experience into a negative one.