Engineering and engineering technology programs face new challenges as they prepare graduates to meet the needs of the global manufacturing economy. Ball State University began implementation of an International Manufacturing Technology Program with an emphasis on the Japanese language and culture in 1996. This paper will describe the steps taken in developing the program; discuss the benefits and goals of such a program; outline plans for continuing the development of the program; and provide innovative concepts as to how such a program can be used to attract a new group of recruits into engineering and engineering technology programs.
