An International Teaching Experience: Challenges and Rewards

Dr. Farid Farahmand
Assistant Professor Engineering Science Deptartment, SSU

Cerent Engineering Science Complex, Salazar Hall 2009A
3:00 PM

Abstract - In this talk, we explore the challenges and rewards of teaching overseas. We share some of our personal experiences during our 7-month stay in Ghana and point out the difficulties facing academic institutions in the country. We examine opportunities for introducing new technologies to improve the education system in developing countries. We further recount on the importance of "appropriate" technologies aiming at improving the standard of living for the developing world. We offer personal accounts as to how such technologies can greatly impact living conditions of many people and how students, particularly STEM majors, can be engaged in collaborative multidisciplinary international projects involving humanitarian technologies. Finally, we conclude by presenting available volunteer opportunities for faculty and students to visit West African countries and potential contributions they can make, while experiencing the incredible natural beauty, cultural richness, and human kindness in the region.

Dr. Farid Farahmand received his PhD in 2005 and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Science at Sonoma State University. He is also the director of Advanced Internet Technology in the Interests of Society Laboratory. Prior to this position, Dr. Farahmand worked as the research scientist at Alcatel-Lucent Corporate Research and was involved in development of terabit optical routers. Dr. Farahmand holds multiple international patents, numerous reference conference articles and journal publications, and several book chapters, on the subjects of wireless communications, optical networking, green networking, and delay tolerant networks. He has also authored many educational papers focusing on eLearning and Active Learning in classrooms. Farid is actively involved in many conferences and serves as the reviewer and co-editor to a number of technical conferences and journals. He is a member of IEEE, ASEE, and Engineers Without Borders-USA.