Online International Collaboration Experience for Global Problem Solving from an Engineering Perspective

Abstract

In the current context of globalization and cultural diversity, the effective resolution of engineering problems requires an approach that transcends cultural boundaries and fosters the integration of diverse perspectives. This paper examines the influence of multicultural perspective on the generation of innovative solutions to engineering challenges using a collaborative initiative called Global Shared Learning Classroom (GSL) created by a private university in Mexico. The initiative seeks to establish connections between two universities from different countries addressing a common topic and creating teams of students using technological tools to achieve such connection. The work carried out among students from the Innovation and Transformation Avenue of the School of Engineering and Sciences at a private university in Mexico is presented, involving careers such as Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Innovation and Development Engineering, as well as students from the Chemical Engineering program at a university in Sucre, Bolivia. The collaboration presented demonstrates the benefits of working with groups not only multidisciplinary but also from different countries and therefore different cultural environments. The objective of this collaboration was to evaluate the learning experience with the Global Shared Learning Classroom initiative in a multicultural, international, and interdisciplinary manner, proposing solutions to a common problem detected in both countries.