History

The vision and global outlook of Dr. Karl T. Compton and the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology brought IAESTE (the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) to the United States. Dr. Compton felt that MIT should explore ways in which its resources could be used to help rebuild Western Europe after World War II. What follows is the history of IAESTE United States...

1948: Earl Eames, a graduating senior in chemical engineering who had been active in student government, was called to Dr. Compton's office and asked if he would be interested in a job for a year as MIT's "roving representative" in Western Europe. Eames accepted and departed in the summer of 1948. In December 1948, Eames received a cable from Dr. Compton asking if he had yet learned of a new program called IAESTE, which had been founded the previous January in London. When Eames responded that he had not, Dr. Compton asked him to attend the next IAESTE conference planned for January 1949 in Copenhagen, which he did.

1949: Under the auspices of the MIT student government, an IAESTE committee was set up in the fall.

1950: The MIT IAESTE committee was admitted to IAESTE International.

1955: Maynard Boring of the General Electric company and Chairman of the U.S. Engineering Manpower Commission and Dr. Sidney Ingram of Bell Telephone Labs took the matter of IAESTE's decline to the Engineers Council for Professional Development and the American Society for Engineering Education which jointly asked the IIE in New York to assume administration and development of a national approach to the program.

1956: IAESTE United States National Committee is moved to IIE headquarters in New York.

1958: Discussions take place with the Engineers Joint Council and the program changes "homes" in 1959 when EJC becomes the U.S. affiliate of the international IAESTE organization.

1959: when EJC becomes the U.S. affiliate of the international IAESTE organization.

Late 1950s: The definition of "technical" has expanded to cover all natural and physical sciences, architecture, and a number of the agricultural fields.

1963: Status as a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation is achieved in May.

Late 1960s: U.S. employers begin to express interest in practical training exchanges for fields than technical fields. Seeing a broader need to be filled, the Board of Directors authorized a small effort to develop exchanges beyond those involved with IAESTE. As exchanges for individuals outside IAESTE expanded, the need for a name more reflective of the organization's activities became apparent.

1966: In March, a separate office is established in New York City.

1967: Robert Sprinkle, a member of the Committee, became Executive Director in March.

1980: The Association for International Practical Training name was adopted, with AIPT continuing as the U.S. member of the international IAESTE organization.

Late 1980s: AIPT regional offices established in Atlanta, Chicago, and California contributed significantly to a growth in exchanges. These offices were made possible by a grant from the U.S. government. The expiration of the grant combined with the sagging economy forced their closure in 1990.

Mid-1990s: It is determined that IAESTE needs to create a system of Local Committees (LCs) in order to develop a national infrastructure to operate inbound and outbound programs across the country.

1996: The first LC is established at University of Michigan.

2001: The LC relationship to the National Office is formalized and student membership becomes official transitioning IAESTE United States into a national membership organization. A constitution and set of policies is created to govern the organization as a program of AIPT. This constitution was created by extracting many of the same purposes and goals created by the Engineering Joint Council in 1959.

2002: AIPT furthers its commitment and support of the revamped IAESTE United States by contributing resources to create and staff core elements of a national membership organization segmented into three regions.

2003: Professional membership is introduced to offer technical professionals and IAESTE alumni opportunities to continue developing global skills and give something back to IAESTE United States.

Today: With more than 25 LCs, IAESTE United States continues to evolve as a national membership organization dedicated to offering a wealth of activities and services to aid in global skill development, leadership training, and the promotion of technical education.

To be continued….