Discovering Excellence in Graduate Engineering and Data Science
Quallege is thrilled to announce our partnership with Lehigh University, a top-50 U.S. institution (ranked #46 by U.S. News & World Report) that’s redefining what personalized graduate education looks like. In an in-depth conversation with Dr. Sabrina Jedlicka, Deputy Provost of Graduate Education for Lehigh University we explored what makes Lehigh a standout choice for international students seeking world-class engineering and business programs.
In her role as Deputy Provost, Dr. Jedlicka works across all five of Lehigh’s graduate colleges to ensure students receive exceptional support. “I get the really distinct privilege of interacting with students who hail from across the globe in this role” she shared. “That’s really exciting for me because I get to learn a lot about their home countries and cultural backgrounds. I also get to learn about the amazing and diverse subjects they are studying from across the 5 Colleges, which is an incredible honor.”
What Makes Lehigh Different?
When asked what sets Lehigh apart, Dr. Jedlicka didn’t hesitate: it’s the personalized, student-centered approach that defines the Lehigh experience.
“We are small enough that individual students can get an enormous amount of attention and have an opportunity to not only work with faculty on their research, but also build relationships in our broader local community and with industry,” she explained. “But we’re big enough that we still have really high-caliber resources, opportunities, collaborations, and offerings.”
This balance is particularly valuable for graduate students. “Students can really thrive in that type of environment where they’re getting a personalized experience, but they’re also getting a very high-quality experience,” Dr. Jedlicka emphasized.
Programs That Connect to Real-World Impact
Quallege’s partnership with Lehigh focuses on high-demand graduate programs that combine rigorous academics with practical application:
- MS/MEng in Computer Science
- MS in Data Science
- MS/MEng in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Optimization Research
- MS in Financial Engineering
- MS in Optimization
- MS in Catastrophe Modeling
A Unique Mission: Interdisciplinary Excellence at Scale
Dr. Jedlicka, a faculty member in both bioengineering and materials science with 18 years at Lehigh, embodies the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. “I came to Lehigh because it offered me an opportunity to really lean into my interdisciplinary background, academically diverse interests,” she explained. “Being part of two departments has certainly facilitated that over eighteen years.”
What distinguishes these programs is their connection to industry challenges. Dr. Jedlicka highlighted the Enterprise Systems Center, as just one example, a “hidden gem” that the website “does zero justice to what it does.” Enterprise Systems Center is Lehigh’s bridge between academic excellence and industry impact, assembling interdisciplinary teams of students, faculty, and industry specialists to work on real company projects in areas like simulation, analytics, operations research, and data science. Students from programs like Industrial & Systems Engineering, Data Science, and Catastrophe Modeling don’t just learn theory—they solve actual business problems for companies, sometimes getting paid for project work and hired full-time upon graduation. For companies, it’s a cost-effective way to access specialized expertise, supplement their teams with skilled researchers, and recruit talent who’ve already proven themselves on real projects.
A Global Community That Celebrates Diversity
For international students, Lehigh offers something particularly special: a community that doesn’t just accommodate diversity but actively celebrates it.
Dr. Jedlicka shared a powerful example: “We incorporate global holidays into our departmental communications and celebrations. We celebrate our cultural diversity by recognizing and highlighting student traditions through our International Education Week. And I say that because students from different cultures have advocated for the importance of celebrating cultural awareness and diversity, we are continuously striving to learn and do more to make Lehigh a welcoming and inclusive place to study”
Why This Partnership Matters
Quallege is incredibly excited to partner with Lehigh University and Dr. Jedlicka’s team. Their commitment to personalized graduate education, their integration of real industry projects, and their celebration of international students make this a partnership that will create exceptional opportunities for students around the world.
For students seeking a top-tier U.S. graduate education that balances academic rigor with hands-on experience, small-school attention with big-school resources, and cultural celebration with career preparation—Lehigh University offers something truly special.