“The experience of spending 2 months living and working in another country really broadened my understanding of the world and its different cultures. Working every day in an interdisciplinary team helped me learn how to collaborate with people of differing backgrounds and areas of expertise.”
– D Term 2013, MPC Alum
The Melbourne Project Center works in partnership with local and national organizations based in Melbourne. Our teams conduct research on important socio-technical problems and opportunities, combining their technical backgrounds with social research and engagement strategies to identify context appropriate responses. Previous teams have completed projects relevant to Arts and Education, Public Safety, Organizational Process Improvement, Social and Human Services, and Energy Resources. Students work in the field and in the professional offices of organizations across the city, immersing themselves in the community. After a research-intensive preparation term at WPI, students travel to Melbourne, where they work 40 hours a week (generally Monday-Friday), continuing their research and developing reports, presentations and other deliverables that satisfy the project goals. Students are encouraged to partake in local cultural activities and tours during non-work hours, using free public transportation passes to visit local parks, cafes, museums, and sporting events. One weekends and holiday, some students choose to travel farther afield, visiting popular attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Ocean Road, Sydney, and Uluru. The navigation bar on this page will lead you to a FAQ section and will help you find more details about Melbourne tourism, student housing, and more. Students interested in completing an Interactive Qualifying Project in Melbourne should click here to visit the Global Projects Program application site.