International Expansion of Flying Robot Educational Programs: A Case Study of the Collaboration Between Gifu, Nagoya, and North Carolina State Universities

As a practical and systematic approach to engineering education, Ito and Hara developed and delivered a course on the design and construction of flying robots at Gifu University and Nagoya University, respectively. Since 2021, these institutions have jointly organized the Tokai Climax Series, a competitive event featuring outstanding student-built aircraft from both universities. Additionally, a similar program has been implemented by the third author at North Carolina State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In March 2025, a delegation of Japanese students traveled to the United States to participate in an international exchange competition. This paper evaluates the outcomes of these international educational activities in terms of (a) engineering educational effectiveness, (b) potential for international expansion, and (c) enhancement of educational value. A post-event survey conducted among participants (response rate: 91.7%, n =11/12) indicated a significant educational impact. Interdisciplinary collaboration across various engineering fields enabled students to acquire both technical knowledge and intercultural understanding—outcomes that would be difficult to achieve through domestic programs alone. Although the number of analyzed participants is limited, these findings support the effectiveness of this program as a model for future international engineering education.