Students in the welding program at College of DuPage will soon have a unique opportunity to explore manufacturing and welding technologies across borders thanks to a new international education grant. 

COD is one of only 10 higher education institutions nationwide to receive a $10,000 Pioneering Institutions Grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. 

Funded through the Institute of International Education in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the program helps U.S. colleges and universities develop study abroad initiatives that connect study abroad with career readiness in forward-looking fields critical to continued U.S. prosperity and advancement. 

COD will use the funding to support a new study abroad experience where students travel through Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario, Canada to explore welding and manufacturing technologies across both countries.  

"This grant gives our welding students an incredible opportunity to experience the industry firsthand," said COD Assistant Welding Professor Marc Hucek. "They’ll see the latest advancements at major manufacturing firms and get a clearer sense of the career paths they might pursue." 

Beyond touring major manufacturing firms, the program gives students a rare chance to explore the transnational nature of manufacturing in North America. 

"We’ll visit shipyards and steel mills so students can see what they’ve only read about or imagined," added COD Assistant Welding Professor David Ellis. "They’ll meet working welders, observe full-cycle manufacturing processes and investigate how Canadian welding standards differ from those in the U.S.” 

Sue Kerby, COD Coordinator of Study Abroad, noted that technical fields are underrepresented in study abroad, both at the College and nationally.  

“This grant will help us expand our global offerings into a new field of study,” she said. “Our student will gain insight into the global scale of manufacturing and future career paths both here and abroad.” 

Learn more about COD’s Manufacturing Technology program.