Introducing:

The Office of Global Outreach & Extended Education

The world has rapidly evolved over the last decade, with the technology and innovation creating new paradigms of how we live and work in the U.S. and beyond. As described in Thomas Friedman's recent national best seller, The World is Flat, globalization has fostered opportunities for emerging economies in Latin America, Mexico, China, India, Vietnam and other regions to participate in the growing global economy. To remain competitive, the U.S. must continue to lead interdisciplinary research and education to sustain and advance its position in the global marketplace. Multi-national corporations see opportunities to enable their products and services in these regions of the world as the economic core strengthens. To sustain our position as a leader in innovation, it is critical that U.S. universities and engineering schools play a key role in developing curriculum and research strategies that will prepare engineering students for the global marketplace.

To this end, Arizona State University (ASU) is advancing a "New American University" concept with a focus on "Excellence, Access, and Impact" with one of eight design imperatives focused on Global Engagement. The ASU Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering (Engineering School) recognizes the importance of developing our faculty and providing opportunities for the students to understand the challenges and impact of their profession around the world. Our vision is "Leading Engineering Discovery and Innovative Education for Global Impact and Quality of Life." For more than 20 years, the Engineering School’s Center for Professional Development (CPD) has served thousands of engineering and technical professionals in graduate and professional programs, not only in Arizona, but globally.

To advance this vision, the Engineering School renamed the Center for Professional Development and launched the "Office of Global Outreach and Extended Education" (GOEE). The broadened goals and objectives will include establishing tactical and strategic relationships with university global partners, corporate members and governmental organizations. The GOEE team will continue to serve engineering professionals around the world by providing access to innovative life-long learning opportunities through graduate degrees, professional certificate programs and short courses delivered online, in the classroom, or a combined delivery. In addition, a new undergraduate degree program in software engineering is being explored as a new online offering for 2009.

The Global Outreach team will continue to focus on developing a portfolio of future opportunities to inspire our next generation of discoverers, technologists, scientists, mathematicians, engineers and educators through the "New American University" - Arizona State University.

We look forward to your feedback, recommendations and ideas to advance the GOEE vision for your benefit.

Stay tuned for upcoming events and new information. We wish you a safe and enjoyable summer! See you next Fall!