Application Instructions

Description of Program

In 2004, the SJSU Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering established a $1 million Global Technology Initiative, with the mission of giving SJSU students a global perspective on technology and business developments. Its goal is to expand students’ horizons about the opportunities and challenges of a global economy, to expose them to global environmental and energy problems in which technology plays a central role, and to motivate their learning of global issues and different cultures.

An exciting part of the program is that it’s continually evolving. In Summer 2020, GTI will be going to Jyväskylä, Finland for the first time. The JAMK Summer program includes lectures, workshops, get-togethers and interesting site visits around Finland and Scandinavia. Each year, JAMK Summer School gathers approximately 200 students and lecturers from around the globe, including Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Singapore, the USA, and Europe. The JAMK program goes from 5/29/20 to 6/18/20 (GTI students choosing the St. Petersburg experience will stay in Finland until 6/22/20).

Our tailored GTI program will include Business Courses in the morning (12 days of classes) and an engineering research experience in the afternoon. Possible research areas include: Cybersecurity, International Logistics, Automation and Robotics, Civil Engineering, Energy and the Environment, and Additive Manufacturing. Find out more at the website for the JAMK program.

Social Events at JAMK, June 2020

Monday 1 June: Jyväskylä Sightseeing tour by bus at 18:00-20:00

Tuesday 2 June: Traditional Finnish Summer Eve Experience

Friday 5 June: Get-together in city center at 18:00

Tuesday 9 June: Cruise on Lake Päijänne

Thursday 11 June: Vuorilampi nature trail and BBQ at 17:00-21:00

More Events coming

Application Procedure for All Students

Approximately 15-20 participants will be selected through the following application process.

To apply, the following items must be completed and submitted by Friday, November 1, 2019 at 5 PM: Completed Application. You must use your SJSU email in your application. Submission of transcript(s) for all college coursework (including at SJSU). Note: transcript(s) must include grades earned in Spring 2019 and Summer 2019. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. The transcripts should be uploaded along with your application.



Attend an interview, if invited

After the review of applications, a pool of Semifinalists will be notified and invited to an interview for the final selection. The interviews will be conducted November 18th-22nd.

Final selection will be made on or before Friday, December 3, 2019.

Participant Selection Criteria

Grade-point average (GPA)

Service to SJSU student organizations or non-SJSU community organizations, highlighting past and current leadership positions

Communication and interpersonal skills, including those demonstrated during the semifinalist interview

Potential for significant learning about globalization and entrepreneurship

Student cannot be on probation or on disciplinary status

Minimum Eligibility Requirements to Apply

The applicant must be a matriculated undergraduate student at SJSU in the College of Engineering. Students must have junior or senior standing (at least 60 earned semester credits at time of application) Graduate students, transitory students, open-university students and alumni are not eligible. Graduation date must not be earlier than December 2020. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, both at SJSU and overall.

Requirements for Travel

Applicants will be selected based on how they and the College of Engineering can benefit from their participation in this program, and how they can help achieve the mission of GTI. Participant selection will be a complex process; selection criteria includes, but are not limited to:

The summer program is held May 29-June 18, 2020 (June 22 if the student goes to St. Petersburg). Actual travel dates may shift depending on airfare, availability of plane tickets, and other factors. Each student who is accepted may choose one of three optional trips which will be paid by the College of Engineering. The student can pay for the other trips if he/she wishes. Trip prices are available on the JAMK site.

Optional Trips

Tallinn, Estonia, May 31, 2020

Stockholm, Sweden, June, 12-14, 2020

St. Petersburg, Russia, June 19-22, 2020

Travel expense

The College of Engineering will pay for the majority of the cost of the GTI program in Finland (program fee, room, breakfast, etc). The Lunch Fee is 3 Euros/day for lunch at campus. The program fee includes Administration, Summer School Office and tutor services, 2 nights at Eurohostel in Helsinki May 29-31 2020, Transportation from Helsinki to Jyväskylä on Sunday May 31 2020, Extracurricular activities: Helsinki and Jyväskylä city tours, cruise at lake Päijänne, Traditional Finnish Summer Eve Experience, farewell-party and other activities of your choosing (content subject to change).

GTI students are responsible for a portion of the trip costs (approximately $500-$650). GTI students who do not submit payment for the trip by 2/14/2020 will be dropped from the program. More details will be provided after the GTI students are chosen. GTI students will need to bring money for lunch and dinner and any incidentals, along with any optional trips they choose.

Spring Term Course Requirement

Selected participants will be required to register for a one-unit course – Engr 180 in Spring 2020. The class will meet from 8:00 am to 8:50 am on Fridays.

Attendance Requirements

Selected participants are required to attend all Engr 180 classes, as well as the activities scheduled for pre-trip and post-trip to Finalnd. Other mandatory debriefing activities and tasks will be specified and scheduled in due course.

Anyone missing any two scheduled meetings or arriving late twice to scheduled meetings will be dropped from the Finland portion of the GTI program.

GTI has many important requirements; if you do not feel you will be able to satisfy them all, please do not apply.

Required Travel Documents

Participants will be required to secure their own passports immediately after notification of their selection. Obtaining a passport takes approximately 6-8 weeks once submitted. Failure to obtain the necessary passport by February 7, 2020 will result in disqualification for the trip.

Insurance Requirements

Participants are required to have insurance. The College of Engineering will purchase insurance covering medical, property, and repatriation. More information will be provided to GTI students after the finalists are chosen.

University Liability Waiver

The applicant must agree to sign a waiver form releasing San Jose State University and California State University from all possible liability claims.

Required Student Code of Conduct

Participants will be expected to behave as representatives of the SJSU and the U.S.

Participants are required to meet all deadlines set by the GTI Director. Failure to submit paperwork in a timely manner might result in your disqualification from the GTI study tour.

Proper student conduct applicable to on-campus activities are applicable and observed throughout the GTI program. Violators will be disciplined upon return to campus. See "S16-15, University Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities" for details about acceptable SJSU student conduct.

SJSU Students are subject to the rules of the Student Conduct Code. SJSU Student Conduct Code applies to all students whether on the SJSU campus or in the greater community. If your behavior on the trip violates the Student Conduct Code, you might be subject to disciplinary action.

All participants will be required to observe local laws and customs. Violators will be disciplined upon return to campus.

No relatives or friends may accompany the participants during any portion of the trip.

All participants will begin the trip at the designated location in the U.S. as a group. They will stay with the group throughout the trip, except that they may leave the group at the conclusion of all site visits of the study tour.

Optional Course Credit

GTI participants have the option of earning SJSU credit for their classes at JAMK. The costs for these credits must be paid by the student. More information will be given out to the finalists.

Food and lodging during travel

Lodging in Jyväskylä will be at the GreenStar Hotel, 2-3 students per room. For each room, there are three available living spaces and a private bathroom. An excellent breakfast buffet, Internet access, Bedlinen, towels and housekeeping is included. Additional amenities include laundry and a shared kitchenette with dedicated refrigeration space per room.

Important Dates

Application Deadline: Friday, November 1, 5:00 pm Semi-Finalist Notified: Friday, November 8, 2019 Interviews: November 18-22, 2019 GTI students Notified: On or before Friday, December 3, 2019 First day of Spring 2020 course: Friday, January 24, 2020

For any questions contact: Dr. Patricia Backer, Director, GTI Program, Email: patricia.backer@sjsu.edu, Phone: 408-924-3214