US and UKZN Students Collaborate on Final Year Projects

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Six students from the University of Illinois in the United States were in Durban recently to collaborate with UKZN Agricultural Engineering students on their final year design products.

The visit by the US students was organised by Dr Alan Hansen, who is a Professor and Leader of the Off-Road Equipment Engineering Division in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Illinois.

Hansen first initiated this collaborative project-based study abroad programme in 2004 and 2014 marks the sixth year that students from the two universities have worked together.

The objective of the project-based programme is to promote awareness and understanding of African cultures as well as an international perspective in the students from the United States while the UKZN students benefit from an expanded design team and from interacting with students from different backgrounds and academic systems.

This year two groups of students collaborated on two design projects: (i) the design, construction and evaluation of a net launcher to be used for catching birds and (ii) the design and construction of an automated trimming, cutting and planting mechanism for eucalyptus cuttings.

Co-operation between the students from the two universities starts early in the academic year with electronic communication and audio-visual meetings which focus on the design components of the projects and culminates in a  month-long visit from the US students to enable direct collaboration on the design projects.

This collaboration unlocked opportunities for the design teams to share knowledge on the principles of theoretical design, technical aspects arising during constructions and design project management. 

Prior to their return to Illinois, the USA students made a presentation on their progress with the design projects and what they had learnt from their visit to UKZN and South Africa. 

Hansen mentioned that comments concerning the programme from students who have previously visited UKZN had all been very positive with many of them confirming that it was a life-changing experience.

Early feedback from the latest group indicated a similar assessment.

According to UKZN’s Professor Jeff Smithers, who has been involved with the study abroad programme since its inception, UKZN students have benefitted from the collaboration with the University of Illinois and have developed technical, team work and project management skills and gained confidence through the collaboration.

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