Pakistani, Indian and American high school students will immerse in each other’s cultures in the summer of 2015 thanks to a new program by the University of Rhode Island College of Engineering. Building Bridges will bring together eight students from each country for four weeks of cross cultural exchange and engineering education.

The program aims to break down stereotypes and foster friendly relations. The students will live in residence halls on the Kingston campus, take field trips, participate in social activities and engage in educational activities. Industrial and systems engineering Professor Manbir Sodhi will lead the project along with chemical engineering Associate Professor Mercedes Rivero-Hudec.

The project grew out of the Summer Engineering Academy, organized by Sodhi. With the academy attracting many foreign students, Sodhi pitched a program focused on Pakistani-Indian-American relations. He’ll recruit students from India and Pakistan through his extensive professional and personal network while American students will come from the pre-engineering programs from Providence public schools.

“We’re excited to welcome these students to URI,” Sodhi says. “The program perfectly fits the University’s mission of fostering an international community of scholars.”