When Christina Martino started at Marquette, she was already thinking of ways to leave campus. Not for any dislike of what Marquette has to offer — she loves her home away from home in Milwaukee — but to participate in the university’s tradition of international travel and immersion for students.
“Going abroad with Marquette was a very high priority for me,” Martino explains. “Even before college, I had a goal to work internationally someday.”
Martino says Marquette’s environmental engineering program solidified her college decision, and as she has progressed through her time on campus, she added a minor in business administration to round out her skills and knowledge for the future.
As Martino built up her academic courseload though, she worried it might come with a trade-off for her global aspirations. Engineering students regularly participate in semester-long study abroad experiences, but it takes extra effort to find a program and time that fits neatly within their graduation requirements. With the addition of an interdisciplinary minor, her options for semester-long study abroad were limited even further.
Just as Martino began to consider that international travel might be off the table for her Marquette future, she heard about flexible, short-term international trips hosted by the Opus College of Engineering. These one-week and two-week experiences are intentionally designed by the college to be more flexible for students with full courseloads and follow an engineering-focused itinerary to explore the intersection of industry and culture in a new environment.
Lightbulbs were flashing in Martino’s mind, and she was immediately drawn to a May 2026 trip to Germany and Italy.
“My grandpa is from Italy, and I went when I was younger to see his hometown. I’ve always wanted to go back, and I liked the idea of getting an engineering perspective on the country,” she says. “It seemed productive to combine a visit to Italy and Germany with my engineering interests.”
Plus, the trip fit neatly between the end of her spring semester and the start of her summer internship, offering an insightful transition from the classroom to the workplace.
Marquette engineers exploring Europe
Guided by faculty and staff mentors, Martino and a cohort of seven peers spent 12 days touring a variety of companies, universities and cultural sites, connecting with a diversity of people and personalities along the way. Berlin and Milan served as hubs in each country.
Company visits included industry titans like Lamborghini and BMW as well as innovative European firms leading in aerospace solutions, biotechnology, infrastructure and construction. For an environmental engineer like Martino, she was particularly drawn to businesses focused on sustainable civil, construction and infrastructure projects.
In Berlin, Drees & Sommer was favorite of Martino’s because it included hands-on exercises with the company’s staff, allowing students to connect their engineering knowledge to the business. The global consulting firm focuses on sustainable solutions for the real estate, infrastructure, and manufacturing markets, mirroring many of the American-based companies that regularly partner with the Opus College.
In Milan, a standout was the group’s lengthy conversation with an executive of BUROMILAN, a civil engineering firm with private and public projects across four continents.
“The leader we spoke with was able to answer specific technical questions about every project we discussed, even if he didn’t work directly on the project,” Martino says. “It really showed how the business is connected and collaborative, even with projects around the world.”
Along with building industry connections, students also visited multiple universities to understand how engineering students across cultures follow their journey to becoming global problem-solvers. Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), a leading Milan-based design school, offered a behind-the-scenes look at their studio spaces where students from around the world combine art and technology in a fashion and design context.
“Their jewelry workshop space was cool for me because I used to do that as a hobby,” Martino says. “You could tell each person had creative freedom to use the technology to create their own products and designs.”
Martino adds that post-tour meals with students at each university, both from Europe and around the world, offered a rare glimpse into their personalities, goals and approach to education and careers. “It was fun to see them in their own elements outside of school and acting as their full selves rather than tour guides,” she says.
Students received a tour of Milan’s San Siro Stadium, a host venue of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. While discussing infrastructure demands behind hosting Olympic games, students had chance to see where alumnus Emery Lehman, Eng ’20, celebrated his silver medal at the Milano Cortina Games. The stadium is slated to be demolished and replaced soon, making the tour one of the last of its kind.
Along the way, the group immersed in German and Italian culture and history. From religious monuments to museums and meals in between, students reflected on how the wider context of a region informs how engineers approach their work.
Dr. Lisa Chase, assistant director of engineering education in the Opus College, explains that the trips are intentionally designed to bounce between industry, universities, history and culture.
“For our students to understand what it takes to be a successful global engineer, we want them to observe the interplay between technology and culture. They need to recognize that the local people, with their unique customs and history, are at the root of every pressing problem and innovative solution,” Chase says.
“This trip rebuilt my confidence in becoming a global engineer and helped me realize that working abroad in the future was a real possibility for me,” Martino says.
Students interested in participating in Global Engineering as Marquette Students (GEMS) trips are encouraged to explore offerings and apply on the program webpage.
Professionals and partners interested in supporting the Opus College of Engineering’s initiative to develop global engineering leaders are encouraged to email lisa.chase@marquette.edu.
