During my time in South Korea on the plus3 program I had many new cultural, professional and academic experiences that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I tried new foods, visited historical and cultural sites, and explored how companies in Korea operate. I had the opportunity to experience some of the most advanced smart systems in the world, including public transportation such as buses and subways. In addition, I learned how culture in South Korea differed from in the US. Everything was a lot more organized such as lining up for the subway. There was also a sense of community where people did things like shared meals with at least four other people. This study abroad opportunity has changed my views on traveling and the engineering profession.
As with all professions, ethics is a large part of engineering. I had some prior knowledge on ethics in engineering from classes at Pitt during my freshman year, specifically when I had to write about an ethical dilemma. Studying abroad in South Korea added to this prior knowledge as I learned from real engineering companies that dealt with ethics as a part of their everyday job. Big companies like Hyundai and TK Elevators who sell millions of their products across the world have to ensure the safety and functionality. TK Elevators can be found in large apartment and office buildings which carry people up and down all day. One faulty car or elevator could lead to many injuries and potential lawsuits. This is why the employees and engineers of these companies must do multiple tests and sign off on all the products. This is more relevant because of the increase in automation in factories like Hyundai where more than half the manufacturing process is done by machines. It is important for real people at Hyundai to do a test drive of the car after it is put together by machines that could have malfunctioned at some point during the manufacturing process. As for TK Elevators, they had a whole test tower built in which they installed the elevators and did tests on them to ensure that the elevator was properly designed to be sold and utilized in tall buildings. These experiences broadened my understanding of ethics from a theoretical topic into a daily responsibility. I now realize that ethics is about anticipating risk and being proactive as even minor mistakes can affect users’ lives. This reinforced what I learned at Pitt as I got to see real-world engineering companies deal with ethics.
At the end of our trip we had to present a smart system to address a problem we observed during our stay in Seoul. My group created a business plan for a redesigned smart trash can developed by our fictional company, SeoulWaste. This project challenged me to think not only as an engineer but also from a business perspective—something I had little experience with before. We had to come up with a way to make a profit on a redesigned smart trash can. I believe learning the business side of this project was beneficial to me as an engineer since it is important to consider the user when designing a product. Throughout the project we had to change features of our trash can so that we could make a profit, in addition to making it the most functional for the user. I can now apply the knowledge I gained to projects I encounter in the future. I am sure that will not be the last time I will have to work with people on the business side of a project.
When visiting Yonsei University we took a tour of a biology lab where the students were neuroscience majors and were studying Alzheimer’s disease in mice. This does not directly relate to me as a mechanical engineer, however it was interesting to learn about the lab work they were doing and relate it to some of the things I learned in my chemistry class second semester where I had to take a lab. Exposure to other fields, like neuroscience and business, expanded my view of engineering. It also reminded me that real-world problems don’t fit into academic departments, so it’s important to seek knowledge and experiences outside of my core field.
Throughout the trip I noticed that learning and education doesn’t stop when you get your degree. Employees at Hyundai, TK Elevators and Samsung all were continuing to learn inside and outside of their chosen field. All these large companies were divided into smaller teams, and each team had safety measures to learn. In addition, employees at Hyundai who work with a variety of different machinery have to learn how to use the equipment before they can take on projects. This is true for any career as there is always more to learn outside of the classroom and from more experienced coworkers. This showed me that even after I obtain my degree in engineering there will always be more to learn depending on what company I work for or what team I am a part of. This can also be applied to life outside of work as well. While in Korea I realized that when traveling to other countries it is important to research their culture, food and other social differences there might be. Learning some of the language is very helpful as well, especially when visiting some of the less touristy locations. Studying abroad taught me that there is always more to learn and that you should always stay diligent when having a new experience. The things you learn can always be applied to other aspects of your life.
While in Korea I encountered a variety of social environments, including that of professional life. Companies like TK Elevators added fun aspects to their employees’ work day by having a game room. The game room included a golf simulator, a pool table and multiple ping pong tables. These additions to the building allow the employees to build relationships with each other which ultimately benefits their work because it strengthens the team. In Samsung they had cafeterias and places to eat with your coworkers during lunch breaks instead of everybody going their separate ways. These activities aren’t just there for employees to enjoy during their breaks, but they allow for connections within the community because a more connected team will have better communication and ultimately produce better work. Engineering is a collaborative career and these Korean companies recognize that and make sure to focus on the social aspect of the professional environment in addition to the actual work.
Working with a multidisciplinary team was something we practiced over the course of our trip. Our groups were divided between engineering and business majors and we had to work together during our final project utilizing our specific skills. We even did multiple fun competitions in Myeongdong as a group where we were tasked with finding a specific dessert location that in turn helped us work on our navigation skills. We had to collaborate to be the first group to arrive at that location, deciphering the clues given to us. In one instance my group was one of the first two groups and got our shave ice paid for. Outside of our plus3 group, we saw people at the yogurt probiotic company working with coworkers in different areas. There were the people who managed the machines and had to report to their supervisors. They also had meetings with people on the sales side of the company. Even at places like Camp Casey we saw multidisciplinary teams working together in the motorpool. Some of the members of the team had more experience fixing the vehicles while others were there to operate them. We heard from Pitt Alumni that everyone’s skillset was different and on missions it was important that everyone did their part for the team to succeed. These experiences made me more adaptable and highlighted that the best solutions come from collaboration and multiple perspectives.
Traveling to South Korea on the Plus3 program is an experience I will always remember. The academic, professional, and cultural lessons I learned will continue to influence my development as an engineer and as a person.. While in Korea I not only learned important skills, but grew as a person. Before the trip, I struggled with navigation and relied heavily on Google Maps. This experience improved my sense of direction and made me feel more independent. I also feel more independent because I traveled to and lived in a foreign country for two weeks. I also had the chance to practice Taekwondo again after a few years off, which inspired me to someday go back to pursue my next black belt degree. This program has prepared me for future internships and co-ops that I will pursue and can apply what I learned abroad. It allowed me to grow as an engineer, expand my worldview, and gain insight into how ethics, teamwork, and innovation intersect in real-world engineering.