Aggie Engineers Are Going Global Thanks to Halliburton

Today’s Aggie engineers are gaining an industry edge through programs offering global exposure.

By Tylie McDonald ’27

Lead photo courtesy College of Engineering

Supported by a $5 million endowment from Halliburton, the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs office in the College of Engineering is a national leader in offering students transformative international experiences that strengthen their technical expertise, cultural awareness and ability to tackle complex challenges in a rapidly evolving industry.

International Itineraries

Engineering students can gain hands-on experience, global perspective and career-ready skills through four immersive international opportunities:

Faculty-Led Program: Faculty teach courses abroad at a participating international institution for three to six weeks, combining coursework with technical visits, cultural field trips and hands-on projects.

Field Trip: These short-term, one- or two-week programs focus on research and emerging engineering challenges, combining semester coursework at Texas A&M University with an international trip featuring technical visits and collaborative projects.

Semester Exchange: Students spend a semester at a partner university, fully integrating into its engineering curriculum, earning degree credit and developing independence by navigating new cultures without faculty or staff support.

International Internship: Students work eight to 10 weeks on assigned projects at global companies or universities, gaining hands-on engineering experience, professional connections and exposure to international work environments.

“Our goal is to develop engineers who can think globally and collaborate effectively across cultures,” said Dr. Maria Alves ’03 ’17, the program’s senior director. “Our international partnerships enable the college to engage in advanced research and knowledge exchange with prestigious institutions worldwide, creating opportunities for students and faculty to contribute to solutions for the world’s complex problems and learn to approach challenges from a broader perspective.”

Nearly 1,000 Aggie engineers annually participate in programs that span the globe. For Bryton Praslicka ’19, founder and CEO of FluxWorks, pursuing three global offerings was a defining part of his education. “I listed my study abroad experiences above work on my resume for years,” he said. “It showed employers I could collaborate with diverse teams.”

Funds from Halliburton’s endowment support the program’s operations and student scholarships to travel abroad, helping the college increase international experiences for engineering graduates.

“Competitive engineers have a global view,” said Jeff Miller, chairman, president and CEO of Halliburton. “Partnering with Texas A&M’s global engineering program is an incredible way for Halliburton to invest in the next generation of engineers.”

Five Aggies Recount Experiences Abroad:

Yuta Haratsu ’25, Aerospace Engineering | Brazil | International Internship

“Working with international peers and learning from top professors gave me incredible hands-on aerospace experience. After conducting research under postdocs and professors at the University of São Paulo, I designed, built and flew an electric, unmanned aircraft alongside a team of students—a challenging yet rewarding engineering project.”

Morgan Gullo ’25, Mechanical Engineering | France | Semester Exchange

“Studying mechanical engineering in France broadened my technical skills, but what stood out most was immersing myself in French culture. Living with local students, adapting to a new language and experiencing a different way of life taught me valuable lessons in flexibility and collaboration.”

Katharine Liepman ’26, Architectural Engineering | Greece | Faculty-Led Program

“Although I gained exceptional knowledge in engineering, one of the most unforgettable parts of my experience was a spontaneous trip to Agistri with a friend I met abroad. After a day exploring historic sites, we took a bus and ferry to the island, embracing adventure and making the most of our time in Greece.”

Janelly Vargas ’27, General Engineering | Mexico | Field Trip

“The most exciting part of my experience abroad was diving into research alongside professors and peers from different backgrounds. Learning how to identify real-world problems, develop a research proposal and present our findings challenged me to think critically and collaborate effectively.”

Kyle Harwood ’25, Chemical Engineering | United Kingdom | Semester Exchange

“Moving to a new country without knowing anyone was challenging, but it ended up pushing me out of my comfort zone and was one of the best experiences I’ve had. As an engineering student, this experience also showed me the value of approaching problems from different angles and being open to new ways of thinking.”

A Decade of Global Experiences: Explore Program Milestones

2015

Halliburton donates $5 million to establish a long-term endowment supporting engineering study abroad programs.

2017

The Halliburton Engineering Global Programs office announces its goal to establish Texas A&M as a world leader in global engineering education and have 50% of engineering students graduate with international experiences.

2020-21

In the wake of COVID-19, program administrators develop a Global Competency Curriculum, embedding global learning outcomes in a virtual format to maintain impact. Limited travel resumes in 2021 with 55 students abroad.

2022-24

The program rebounds by sending 69 students abroad in 2022, 912 students in 2023 and 1,008 students in 2024.

2025

Recognized as a national leader in global engineering education, impacting approximately 7,500 students since 2015, the program is selected to host the 28th Colloquium on International Engineering Education at Texas A&M this November.

Tagged with:

Contact

Austin Schilling
Assistant Vice President for Development
College of Engineering
Call: 979.862.1876

Make Your Impact

Want to give Aggie engineers a global experience? Your gift to the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs office can support students as they study and work abroad.

$50 $100 $250 Other