US-Brazil Cognitive Systems
Engineering Exchange Program

Sponsors:  FIPSE and NSF - USA and CAPES - Brazil

This program enables Systems Engineering undergraduates to work on a team project with students from Brazil. Students develop competencies in human factors and cognitive engineering through analyzing and designing systems for the Brazilian oil and gas industry. They also develop new language skills, and learn the role of social, cultural, and technological differences in engineering practice. After this international experience, students will be equipped to work in multinational work teams applying a human-centered approach to systems design within the global economy. More details

Petrobras, Brazil's major oil and gas company, is a company partner. Students will have the opportunity to work on human factors capstone project with Brazilian students as applied to this industry.

Partners:

• University of Virginia (UVA)
• The Ohio State University (OSU)
• Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
• Petrobrás
• Transpetro Dutos & Terminais
• Pride International 

Approximate Timeline:

• Applications due Oct 1 of third year
• Applicants Selected (Nov. 1)
• Language Training in US (Jan - May)
• Pre-departure orientation (April)
• Leave for Brazil (late June)
• Comprehensive Language Training in Brazil (July - Aug.)
• Courses start in Brazil (mid Aug.)
• US students return (mid Dec.)
• Brazilian students arrive (early Jan.)
• Capstone project presented at IEEE SIEDS Conference (late April)

Prerequisites:

• Undergraduate enrolled in Systems Engineering
• At least one course in Portuguese
• SYS 323
• Permission of Systems Engineering instructor (Stephanie Guerlain or Ellen Bass)

Curriculum

This is a 3 semester plus one summer program related to the oil industry, applying human factors principles to control room design. Changes in the normal SIE curriculum allow students to participate in the program and still meet all requirements to graduate in 4 years. To do this, students need to plan their schedules with a Systems Engineering instructor in the beginning of their 3rd year.

Students are required to take one semester of Portuguese by the end of their 3rd year. Students begin their capstone project by completing SYS 453 and STS 401 in the Spring of their third year. In the summer after the 3rd year, students complete language training in Brazil. In the Fall of the 4th year, students take courses in Brazil and continue the capstone project. in the Spring of the 4th year, students return to UVA with the Brazilian students. They complete SYS 454 and STS 402 as well as the capstone project.

Past Student Projects:

• Critical Review and Redesign of a Petroleum Industry Accident/Incident Reporting System
• Design of a Nuclear Power Plant Supervisory Control System
• Designing a ballast control system operator interface
• Helicopter offshore safety in the Brazilian oil and gas industry
• Out of well control

Publicity:

• Professor Guerlain Faculty Notes (Virginia Engineering)
• Classroom Comes Alive for Students Onboard Rio de Janeiro (PRIDE International)

Estimated Program Costs:

Students pay tuition at the home institution for the semester spent abroad. Each U.S. student will receive up to $4000 for qualifying expenses (travel, accommodations, language training, visa expenses).

Photo Gallery

Some Useful Links:

• UVA's Study Abroad Handbook
• The Center for Global Education
• Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ