Miller Fellowships open global opportunities for Auburn students

The Auburn University Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management offers several opportunities each summer for students to study abroad while gaining hands-on experience in global engineering and business settings.

Through the International Engineering Projects program, business and engineering students collaborate with international companies to solve real-world engineering challenges. Students enrolled in the Business-Engineering-Technology (BET) minor also have the opportunity to complete the second year of their minor abroad, developing their own product ideas in an international context.

This year, 44 study abroad fellowships were awarded through funds provided by the Charles D. Miller Chair Endowment, helping students make the most of their time abroad.

Over the summer, students participating in the international projects program spent six weeks in Pamplona, Spain, while BET students divided their studies between Pamplona and Würzburg, Germany.

For Caroline Cost, an industrial and systems engineering major, the experience offered both professional growth and personal discovery.

“I was so grateful to receive the support of this fellowship - it helped make my trip stress-free and allowed me to make the most of my time in Spain,” Cost said. “Studying abroad helped me gain a better understanding of how industrial engineering can be applied across different industries. As I completed my own project and attended group presentations, I learned about specific career opportunities in healthcare, energy, manufacturing and government operations.”

Cost said the weekly project updates helped refine her communication skills and prepare her for future opportunities.

“Our professors gave us very specific critiques each week on our reports and presentations,” she said. “By the end of the program, I felt more confident giving presentations, a skill I know will greatly benefit me in the future.”

For Richard Klinger, a software engineering major pursuing the BET minor, the international experience offered a new way to focus on creativity and collaboration while broadening his global perspective.

“The idea of being able to focus on just the minor as well as experience Europe in multiple countries appealed to me,” Klinger said. “It was a meaningful experience that helped bolster creativity and gave me exposure to new cultures.”

Klinger said that studying abroad enhanced his understanding of the global nature of his field.

“Many software products reach a global scale,” he said. “This experience helped me recognize differing requirements at legal and cultural levels from different countries, instead of just an American point of view.”

He also credited the trip with helping him develop stronger teamwork and communication skills.

“I learned how to better convey my own thoughts with those of others, especially teammates from business-focused backgrounds,” Klinger said. “This trip allowed me to see and understand cultural perspectives beyond those that a standard tourist would.”

Reflecting on the experience, Klinger said it reshaped his professional goals.

“Although I don't intend to limit myself to it, I would find it exciting to have the opportunity to work for international groups,” he said. “This experience changed my goal from just getting a secure job at a big company to wanting to work on more innovative solutions and take informed risks to bring meaning to my work.”

Both Cost and Klinger agree that the Miller Fellowship played an important role in making these experiences possible.

“The value of this fellowship is truly immeasurable,” Cost said. “It gave me the opportunity to further explore my major in a practical way, travel around Spain with amazing friends, and make memories that I’ll never forget.”