Engineering Graduate Program Options

International students are a BIG revenue source for universities… but are the universities doing enough in return for the students? Context: According to data from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, over one million international students contributed $40.1 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2022-2023 academic year (which is a 19% increase compared to the previous year). That’s about $40,000 per international student. It doesn't end there. International students also contribute through their spending on accommodations, transportation, food, and consumer goods while living in the U.S. Yet, there’s a mismatch between what an international student contributes to this country versus the support they get in return. ❌ Issues with the current higher education system - There is a severe lack of education about immigration. - Most students think that their only path forward is F-1 → OPT → H-1B. - Most students are unaware that they can be self-employed on an OPT, work for multiple employers, or even volunteer. - Most students are unaware of pathways like the O-1 visa that serve as alternatives to the H-1B if they start working toward it from Day 1. (If I knew about the O-1 while I was at Columbia University, I would’ve gotten it a few years sooner) - Most students work on finding a job on their own, without sufficient help from their Career Services department. - Most students don’t get the support they need from their ISO office (International Student Office) for immigration, and resort to getting it from social media & independent attorneys. To anyone reading this who works at a university, you have a lot of power in your hands that could be used better. ✅ What universities SHOULD be doing for their international students, - You should have multiple sessions throughout the academic year educating your students on all of their options BESIDES the H-1B to work in America. - You should be closely working with non-profits, hospitals, and orgs that can sponsor cap-exempt H-1Bs for your students. - You should actively bring in experts — O1/EB1 talent visa recipients, lawyers, and immigrant founders — who can talk about their journeys in navigating the system. Further, also work with orgs that can sponsor an Early Career STEM Research Initiative (J1 pathway). There's a BIG mismatch between universities promoting themselves to international students to make money vs. not helping students actually obtain jobs & navigate the immigration pathways later on. I hope this starts some much-needed discussion. …… Please re-share this post so it helps more people! 🙏 Finally, if you’re an immigrant in America, join 17,500+ who get my weekly newsletter packed with breaking news & free resources like this: https://lnkd.in/gKtUGU-r :) #unshackled #immigration #USA #h1b #visa #students #education

Three Munich students turned down Silicon Valley jobs. Built Europe's answer to SpaceX instead. March 30, 2025: Their rocket lifted off Norwegian soil. Flew for 30 seconds. Then crashed. They called it a success. Think about that. Daniel Metzler, Markus Brandl, and Josef Fleischmann had offers waiting. Six-figure salaries. Stock options. Comfortable careers in California. They stayed in Munich to build rockets. What 30 Seconds Proved: ↳ First private orbital attempt from European soil ↳ 28-meter rocket built by former students ↳ 400 team members from 50 nations ↳ Europe can build, not just buy Seven years ago they were students. Now they employ 400 people. Their inbox shows 10,000 engineers want in. Universities launching space programs overnight. Investors funding hardware again. Young graduates choosing Munich over Mountain View. But here's what stopped me cold: Affordable access to orbit changes everything. Climate scientists get data every hour, not every month. Farmers catch drought before leaves turn brown. Flood warnings arrive days early, not hours. Remote villages connect to the world. Every startup with satellite ambitions. Every researcher tracking deforestation. Every teacher showing students real Earth data. Launch costs dropped from billions to millions. Space Industry Before: ↳ Government monopoly ↳ 10-year development cycles ↳ Talent exodus to America ↳ Billion-euro tickets Space Industry Now: ↳ 1,000kg payloads for startups ↳ Engineers building at home ↳ Manufacturing renaissance ↳ Competition driving prices down The Multiplication Effect: 1 successful launch = Europe joins the game 10 companies inspired = ecosystem ignites 100 space ventures = continent transformed At scale = Earth data democratized From student rocket club to €350 million raised. From Technical University of Munich to Norwegian launch pad. From "can't happen here" to "happening now." They didn't just build a rocket. They showed young engineers they can change the world from home. The future of innovation isn't about which zip code pays most. It's about building what matters where you matter. Follow me, Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld for innovations that inspire the next generation. ♻️ Share if you believe breakthrough innovation can happen anywhere. #Innovation #DeepTech #FutureOfWork #Aerospace

Learning Rapidly: Insights on the Future of Engineering Education In a recent conversation, we had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed, who recently joined SAE International after leading the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). As industry and academic leaders grapple with the rapid pace of technological change, her insights on the future of engineering education and workforce development are particularly timely. “Technology is changing so rapidly. We really need students and faculty to be out there in the real labs where industry is doing their work… immersive-type learning, experiential learning is great for everyone. You can see a real collaborative between industry, education and students” Listen in to the latest episode of Engineering the Future Workforce as we talk about digital transformation and its impact on shifts in engineering education. "When you have [AI] tools that are so powerful, the human side of the engineer becomes paramount because the ethics of what those tools are used for…the machine doesn’t have that.” Engineering associations and membership societies play a vital role as communities of practice, driving change and ensuring the relevance of engineering curricula. As we discussed credentials, Jackie highlighted the ABET quality assurance process as a strong example of industry-academia collaboration, with representatives from all the major engineering societies appoint evaluators to learn and inform the criteria and review programs. One of the most important competencies Jackie identified for future engineers is the ability to learn rapidly. Students today have been online and active in a global community from a young age. “They’re digital natives, meaning the digital connectivity is part of their identity. It’s a language they are very adept and comfortable in.” This vision of the future, where AI serves as a catalyst to personalize and accelerate learning, has exciting implications for engineering education. As industry and academic leaders collaborate on workforce readiness and development, embracing innovative approaches and strengthening industry-academia partnerships is crucial. Read the recap: https://lnkd.in/gPfs7nan. Shannon O'Donnell #EngineeringEducation #Academia 

I am unable to respond to all of you due to the overwhelming number of scholarship application inquiries that have been sent to my inbox, as well as my time commitment. I assure you that I did it without a mentor, and you do not need one either. You can learn from online resources, and I am here to share what worked and what did not work for me. I am willing to share my experience with a larger audience and will continue to do so. I will also share the strategies I used to obtain my scholarships. I'm sorry I can't provide one-on-one mentoring, but I can assure you that if you follow some of the steps I did, you will see some positive outcomes. Let's start with a Statement of Purpose, also referred to as a personal statement or motivational letter. Despite its apparent simplicity, this document will determine your eligibility for a graduate programme. Your statement of purpose should include the following key elements. 1. Achievement: Emphasise experiences and accomplishments that are directly related to the programme. Admissions officers want to know that you have the required skills and experience. 2. Educational Background: When possible, quantify your achievements to demonstrate hard skills. For instance, list your GPA, credit hours completed, research funding received, and so on. 3. Research Experience: Emphasise research projects and internships relevant to your intended field of study. Take a look at specific contributions and outcomes. 4. Publication: Before applying for the studentship, I researched and submitted a paper on climate change adaptation in Africa for publication. I mentioned in my statement of purpose that I was working on a paper. You can publish your paper using secondary data and collaborate with other scholars on a paper or review, mentioning relevant journal articles and papers you've written if they've been published. Include presentations from conferences as well. 4. Be direct and concise: Avoid using excessive academic jargon. To write for an educated but general audience, use clear, concise examples. 5. Investigate the School and Programme: Look into the program's rankings and competitiveness. Examine the QS Ranking, the departmental ranking, and the need for you to study there. Consider the school environment, the number of international students, and the ease with which an international student can integrate. Examine the school's awards and explain how you will benefit from studying there. Examine the facilities, such as the library and lab, to see how they can help you with your studies. Use their names when expressing interest in working with specific faculty members. Support it with reasons related to their jobs and shared interests. Check for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors before submitting. These take away from your ability to pay attention to detail. Grammarly is a free tool.

After 35 years in industry , I'd like to share my perspective on UGC's recent decision allowing direct PhD enrollment after a 4-year bachelor's degree. While expanding educational opportunities is commendable, I have some concerns about this approach based on my industrial and academic experience. 1. Research Quality: Direct PhD enrollment, while efficient, may not yield the depth of research we need. My experience shows that understanding real-world challenges is crucial for meaningful research. 2. The Value of Industry Experience: I've consistently seen those 2-3 years of industry exposure helps researchers:  o Identify practical problems worth solving and Understand implementation challenges o Build valuable industry networks and also Develop project management skills o The Industrial Connect: Modern PhD research should ideally: Address specific industry requirements and Focus on product development or process improvement and also Include substantial hardware implementation or detailed case studies. Bridge the academia-industry gap • Retain entrance examinations to ensure research aptitude and Make 2-3 years of industry experience preferred, if not mandatory • Strengthen industry-academia collaboration in PhD programs and Encourage research problems sourced from industrial challenges While the UGC's initiative to expand PhD access is progressive, we must balance accessibility with research quality. A PhD should contribute to both academic knowledge and industrial advancement. What are your thoughts on this balance between academic qualification and practical experience in doctoral research? #HigherEducation #Research #IndustryPerspective #PhD #Innovation #UGC #STEM #RnD #IndustryAcademia #Engineering #ResearchAndDevelopment #ProductDevelopment #HigherStudies #Education #AcademicResearch #IndustrialResearch #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership #Manufacturing #Technology #IndianEducation #Skills #Mentoring #ExpertOpinion #IndustryInsights #CareerAdvice #PhDLife #Academia #ResearchCommunity #AICTE

I watched a brilliant student get rejected from every PhD program they applied to. Their GPA? 3.9. Research experience? Extensive. GRE scores? 95th percentile. The problem? Their letters of recommendation were academic death sentences disguised as compliments. Here's what I learned after reviewing PhD applications : The difference between acceptance and rejection often comes down to 3 pieces of paper most students completely mismanage. Let me share the framework that turned my "nice" letters into admission gold: THE RAVING FAN RULE I made a critical mistake early on. I asked my most famous professor for a letter—someone who barely knew my name. His letter: "Sarah was a good student in my class of 200." Compare that to my lab supervisor who wrote: "In 3 years, Sarah is the only undergraduate who caught a calculation error in a published paper. She approaches problems like a seasoned researcher." The lesson? Choose advocates over celebrities. Every. Single. Time. THE 12-WEEK STRATEGY Most students ask for letters 2 weeks before deadlines. I asked 12 weeks early with a complete "recommendation packet": → My statement of purpose → Transcript with key courses highlighted   → Sample research paper → Specific talking points about my strengths → My submission timeline (not their deadline) One professor told me: "This is the most organized request I've ever received. It made writing a strong letter effortless." THE ANECDOTE ADVANTAGE Generic letters say: "She's hardworking and intelligent." Winning letters say: "When Sarah's experiment failed after 6 months, she didn't give up. She redesigned the methodology, discovered why it failed, and turned that failure into her thesis chapter. She's in the top 2% of students I've mentored in 15 years." Stories stick. Stats don't. THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH Sometimes you'll be asked to draft your own letter. Yes, it's awkward. But it happens more than anyone admits. When it happened to me, I used this 4-part structure: 1. How we know each other + clear endorsement 2. One specific story with measurable outcomes 3. Evidence I'm ready for graduate-level work 4. Comparative ranking ("top 10% of students") My recommender made minor edits and submitted it. I got into 4 out of 5 programs. THE FOLLOW-THROUGH After acceptance, I sent handwritten thank-you notes to every recommender. Two years later, one became my PhD advisor at a different institution. Another connected me with my current research collaborator. Letters of recommendation aren't just about getting in—they're about building relationships that shape your entire career. --- Your move: If you're applying this cycle, what's one specific story that showcases your potential that you'll make sure gets into your letters? Drop it below—I'll help you refine it. 👇

In the last 3 years, I have reviewed 500+ SOPs (Statement of Purpose) for study abroad. Spotting common mistakes, I've compiled a list to help you ace your Fall 2025 applications! 📚✈️ 👉Mistake 1: Clichéd Beginnings Starting with childhood anecdotes or clichés like technological revolutions can be a turn-off. Instead, open with a unique, personal moment that ignited your passion for your field. 👉Mistake 2: Research Project Pitfall Your SOP is about you, not just your research projects. Avoid detailed project explanations. Share your challenges, how you overcame them, and what you learned from them. 👉Mistake 3: Missing Career Goals Don't forget to explain why you want that specific degree and your post-graduation career goals. It shows your commitment and clarity to join the program. 👉Mistake 4: Chronological Clarity Maintain a logical order in your SOP – academics, internships, then work experiences. It helps the reader understand your journey better. 👉Mistake 5 - Word Limit Issues Writing too little or too much in your SOP can be problematic. SOPs typically range around 1000 words. Aim for 850-950 words. Writing less might leave the admissions committee unconvinced while going overboard makes it tough to cut down without losing essence. 👉Mistake 6: Chopping 1000 to 500 Avoid the temptation to cut down a 1000-word SOP to fit a 500-word requirement. Rewrite it for conciseness and completeness. 👉Mistake 7: Third-Party SOPs Writing your SOP yourself is crucial. Admissions committees can easily identify outsourced or ghostwritten documents, even those generated by AI. At best, get your SOP reviewed by a professional but don't let them write it for you. I hope these insights help you craft a stellar SOP for your study abroad applications. All the best! 😊 #studyabroad #statementofpurpose #fall2025

Bridging the Gap: The Importance of Interaction with Students and Industry-Academia Connect In today’s fast-paced and evolving world, the synergy between industry and academia has never been more crucial. Establishing a strong connection between students, academic institutions, and industry leaders ensures that the future workforce is well-prepared, skilled, and adaptable to meet real-world challenges. Why Student Interaction Matters: Fostering Curiosity and Innovation: Interacting with students allows industry professionals to share insights about emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities. This not only inspires innovation but also fosters curiosity, encouraging students to think beyond textbooks and explore practical applications of their knowledge. Bridging the Skill Gap: Industries often highlight a gap between academic curricula and industry expectations. Through meaningful interaction, professionals can guide students on essential skills, tools, and technologies, making them industry-ready and helping to align academic learning with professional requirements. Encouraging Holistic Development: Students benefit greatly from engaging with industry leaders as they gain exposure to problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and leadership—all essential qualities for thriving in a professional environment. Mentorship and Career Guidance: Industry interaction provides students with real-world perspectives on career paths, growth opportunities, and challenges, helping them make informed decisions about their futures. Professionals can act as mentors, offering valuable advice to shape their aspirations. The Role of Industry-Academia Connect: Collaborative Learning: A strong industry-academia connect creates a collaborative ecosystem where knowledge flows in both directions. While academia contributes research and innovation, the industry offers practical insights, market trends, and challenges that inspire new solutions. Internships and Live Projects: Industry partnerships enable students to gain hands-on experience through internships, live projects, and case studies. This experiential learning is invaluable for developing real-world problem-solving skills. Curriculum Enhancement: Regular interaction with industry ensures that academic institutions can update their curriculum to incorporate new-age technologies, practices, and tools, making education more relevant and future-ready. Research and Development: Collaboration between academia and industry fosters cutting-edge research and development, encouraging the co-creation of innovative products, processes, and services that benefit society as a whole. ISSM Business School Babu Thomas R Ranjith Kumar Arumugaraj

The post-12th journey no longer starts with asking, “𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬?” 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, “𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫?” In the AI-driven world, choosing a career is not about picking a degree — it’s about building a portfolio of skills, tools, and adaptability that can survive rapid disruption. With tools like 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐆𝐏𝐓, 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐭𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 becoming embedded into daily workflows, the very definition of "work readiness" has changed. Today, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝐧𝐨-𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐈-𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 — from media and finance to healthcare and manufacturing. 🎯 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐈-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐞: ✅ B. Tech or BSc in Computer Science / AI / Data Science ✅ BBA in Business Analytics / Digital Business / Fintech ✅ BA in Cognitive Science / Philosophy with AI ethics focus ✅ B. Com with electives in Quantitative Techniques, Business Intelligence ✅ B.Des with UX/UI specialization integrated with AI tools The sooner students move from consumption to creation, the better. 🎯 Even after class 12, they can: ✅ Contribute to open-source AI projects ✅ Start a blog or Substack sharing AI tool reviews or learning journeys ✅ Build a chatbot using ChatGPT or Bard integrations ✅ Apply for virtual internships via platforms like Internshala, AICTE NEAT, and Turing ✅ Attend AI summits, youth innovation bootcamps, and community hackathons By integrating AI, even traditional careers now come with a tech twist. Emerging and hybrid roles include: ✅AI Business Analyst ✅Machine Learning Engineer ✅AI Ethicist / AI Policy Advisor ✅UX Designer with Conversational AI focus ✅Fintech Product Manager ✅Cybersecurity Analyst (AI-powered risk prediction) ✅AI-Assisted Content Strategist ✅Digital Transformation Consultant Hiring trends reported by LinkedIn, Naukri. com, and McKinsey & Company clearly indicate a shift toward skill-first hiring. Roles like AI operations manager, digital ethicist, cybersecurity strategist, product content analyst, and sustainability analyst are emerging — roles that didn’t even exist in a typical career counselling session five years ago. Because the future isn’t waiting for your child to finish school. It’s already recruiting, automating, adapting — and rewarding those who start early. #aitools #cybersecurity #aiengineer #artificialintelligence #machinelearning #robotics #careerprospect #careerdevelopment #skillsdevelopment

Hey, students! Visiting your university's #CareerServices office isn't JUST for when you're looking for a job or internship 💼 Here are 5 other great reasons to visit your university's career services office ⬇️ ✅ You need support with networking From sending a concise message to a recruiter, to reaching out to an alum, to sending that first cold email without loads of regret or overthinking, your career services team is there to help. One of my favorite things to do as a career coach is to advise students (and clients, of course) on their networking efforts. ✅ You need help with your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, etc. This one's probably more obvious, but while you focus a lot of energy on your resume, career services is there to support you in having a cover letter that effectively tells your story and a LinkedIn profile that captures your charm. Second opinions on ALL your career materials is always a good idea. ✅ You're wondering if your major is a good fit for your career goals While we don't overlap with academic advising, career counselors are equipped to help you understand how your major can support your career goals. Just a little reminder - your major does not determine your career! ✅ You need interview preparation Interviews are daunting, especially your first. Career services teams are ready to support you with interview preparation advice (and, maybe even mock interviews) so you can be as prepared as possible for the process. Interviewing is a skill that develops and strengthens over time, and, in my opinion, it's worth investing in. ✅ You want to talk about pay or salary Entering into negotiation conversations can be nerve wracking. Talking out your ideas, rehearsing your requests and non-negotiables, and outlining a plan of action can all be done with a career coach! Career services teams are staffed with dedicated professionals who are eager to support YOU on your career journey 👏