E2SI Abroad FAQs

How many courses do students take and how many credits do they earn?
The program consists of 6 total courses: 5 are three-credit courses and 1 is a one-credit course, for a total of 16 credits. This constitutes a minor for Villanova students.

Who is eligible for the program?
The program is open to all undergraduate students in any college at Villanova.

Do students need engineering or entrepreneurship experience?
No experience with engineering or entrepreneurship is necessary. The program focuses on learning the main tenants of entrepreneurship and innovation, so students do not need to have any current understanding of the concepts or experience. While the program is beneficial to students majoring in engineering, it is equally beneficial to students from other majors and with all different backgrounds, as it is a complement to any career path.

How do I apply?
The application will open on December 15 and will be accessible through the Engineering Undergraduate Students Intranet which is available to only Villanova students.

How much does the program cost?
Total cost for the program is $14,500. That excludes airfare, most lunch and dinners and spending money, but includes all courses, all course material, lodging, ground transportation in Panama, excursions and field trips while abroad, and daily breakfast.

What costs are included or excluded?
The cost includes all courses, all course material, lodging, ground transportation in Panama, excursions and field trips while abroad, and several meals. Students are responsible for the cost of airfare to and from Panama, some meals while in Panama, spending money, and travel insurance (which is required for the trip).

Will financial aid be offered?
Financial aid is available for students as determined by the Financial Aid Office at Villanova.

Are classes online or in person?
Classes will be held virtually for the first 5 weeks of the program, from May 28-June 28.

Classes will be held in person while in Panama for the last three weeks of the program, from July 1-July 19.

How long are classes?
Virtual classes run from Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 4:30PM, with an hour lunch break. Class time often includes some offline activities and work, so students are not on zoom or at the computer for the full duration of the class.

While on the ground in Panama, classes or outings will generally begin at 9:00AM and end mid to late afternoon. Classes and cultural programs run Monday through Saturday; students are on their own on Sundays.

When do students travel to Panama?
Students should arrive in Panama on Monday, July 1. Classes resume in Panama on Tuesday, July 2.

How do students get to Panama?
Students will purchase their own flights and travel from their home city on their own. Ground transportation will be available to meet them when they arrive at the airport and will take them to the pre-arranged lodging. Our program coordinator will ask for and track all students’ travel information, so we are able to coordinate transport.

Where will students stay in Panama?
Housing will be provided for students at The Holiday Inn Panama Canal, on the City of Knowledge campus.

How many faculty members will be in Panama?
The Director of Engineering Entrepreneurship will be on the ground for the duration of students’ stay in Panama. Throughout the trip, there will be 1-2 additional faculty members available at all times.

Is travel insurance required?
Yes. Students must have international travel insurance, which can usually be obtained for less than $100.

What should I pack?
July in Panama is hot and humid. Students can wear casual clothing for outings and cultural activities. For business meetings, business casual clothing is recommended, and for some business site visits, closed-toe shoes will be required. As we get closer to departure, we will share additional details about the agenda and suggested clothing.

What about covid?
Currently there are no covid entry requirements for Panama.

When does the program end?
The program officially ends July 19^th. Ground transportation will be provided to the airport on that date.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

MENTORS PROVIDE INVALUABLE INSIGHT

“E2SI exceeded my expectations. Despite the program’s virtual setting, the experience was truly immersive. Our mentors provided thoughtful insights and taught us to visualize our product in a unique way. I particularly enjoyed the Introduction to Entrepreneurial Technology Class, for it allowed me to realize how every type of product or service directly relates to entrepreneurship. Through the program, I learned to approach problems in a new way, and think like an entrepreneur.” — Lauren Munari ’21 Civil Engineering

DEVELOP CREATIVE SKILLS AND MORE!

“I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone who is curious about how to implement their creativity, learn in a fun environment and learn a variety of important, intangible skills.”— Simon Brooks ’21, Chemical Engineering

EXPLORING IDEAS, SOLVING PROBLEMS

“The most valuable thing that I learned in E2SI was how to approach a problem from every possible angle and make sure that I was finding the best solution. We did endless exercises to help us expand our ways of thinking and really worked on playing off every member of our teams, using every idea.”— Isaac Elder ’19, Psychology

DISTINGUISH YOURSELF WITH E2SI

“It was definitely my Entrepreneurship Minor in Engineering that helped me to stand out and create a brand for myself while looking for post-grad employment. The skills to think not only analytically but creatively and with a business sensibility are skills that not every engineer has.” — Paige Innamorato ’16 Chemical Engineering

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MAJORS

“As a psychology major, I worried that I would not really be able to keep up with the curriculum. However, there was no point where I felt unable to do the work. Of all the classes that I have taken at Villanova, this has given me the most applicable lessons for entering the work force after school.”— Isaac Elder ’19, Psychology

TEACHING TOMORROW’S ENTREPRENEURS

“Always wanting to create my own invention, I fell short due to my lack of both engineering skills and entrepreneurial knowledge. However, E2SI helped change that. We were guided through every step of the process, from brainstorming ideas, to refining an idea, to filing a patent, to actually CREATING the invention, and to finally presenting our invention. Each step was advised by multiple highly credible professors. E2SI not only provided me with a minor and a patent to write on my resume at the end of freshman year, it also allowed me to create countless friendships and connections all while fulfilling my passion to be an entrepreneur.” —Caroline Huang ’22, Finance