Eplum model of student engagement: Expanding non-travel based global awareness, multi-disciplinary teamwork and entrepreneurial mindset development

Common strategic goals for many universities include the internationalization of the curriculum and an increased emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship, multidisciplinary teamwork and public scholarship. Common approaches to teaching these skills and developing mindsets often reach only a limited numbers of students. Universities are challenged with how to expand these educational experiences from a select few to the vast majority. We have developed and are currently testing the eplum model which engages students and faculty mentors across campus in various international humanitarian engineering and social entrepreneurial ventures. This is accomplished in various formal and informal ways from the sub-credit to multi-credit level. Students participate at different levels of engagement such as honors thesis, focused courses, embedded projects, commissioned assignments, volunteer effort, etc The objective of the eplum model is the convergence of disciplines, concepts, cultures, and countries towards a freer, friendlier, fairer and more sustainable planet. This paper discusses the model's philosophy, mechanics and assessment framework. Preliminary assessment results that provide the baseline to understand how different forms and levels of engagement in these ventures leads to global awareness, multidisciplinary teamwork and social entrepreneurial mindset development outcomes at various levels are also discussed.