Impact of International Service Learning on Macro-Ethics: A National Study of Senior Engineering Students.

To address complex problems in an increasingly globalized world, engineers must understand the ethical implications of their work on society. International service learning is one approach for engineers to gain this understanding. The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of international service learning on engineering ethics, more specifically macro-ethics, which is defined as an understanding of their impact on society through engineering. The quantitative study measured senior engineering students' macroethics understanding from a national sample of students enrolled in capstone design courses (n=2095). Students who participated in international service learning (ISL) through capstone and volunteer/work experience possess a greater understanding of macro-ethics compared to students without these types of experiences. Gender is also a contributing factor. Female engineering students possess an understanding of macro-ethics regardless of their ISL experience. Male engineering students with ISL experience have a greater understanding of macro-ethics compared to male engineering students without ISL experience. Male engineering students make up nearly 80% of engineering programs. The integration of ISL into engineering education can help these students develop an understanding of macroethics. Another approach is to recruit more women into engineering who seem to possess an understanding of macro-ethics without participating in ISL experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]