<p>As the mom of an engineering student, I would be interested in the opinions of current engineers regarding this article:</p>
<p>Educating Engineers: Designing for the Future of the Field, a new publication by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, states that engineering schools are heavily influenced by academic traditions that do not always support the profession’s needs and calls for a new model of engineering education.</p>
<p>The authors, Sheri D. Sheppard, Kelly Macatangay, Anne Colby, and William M. Sullivan, write that in the midst of a profound, worldwide transformation in the engineering profession, U.S. undergraduate engineering education is holding onto an approach to problem solving and knowledge acquisition that is consistent with practices that the profession has left behind. Specifically, undergraduate engineering education in the United States emphasizes primarily the acquisition of technical knowledge, distantly followed by preparation for professional practice. </p>
<p>The new model involves the following principles:</p>
<li> Provide a professional spine </li>
<li> Teach key concepts for use and connection</li>
<li> Integrate identity, knowledge, and skills through approximations to practice</li>
<li> Place engineering in the world: encourage students to draw connections</li>
</ol>
<p>The only complaint I hear from industry (an I'm not an educator) is that engineers lack people skills. I have never heard anything about technical, creative, or problem solving skills lacking. Many things an engineer learns are taught on the job, and perhaps this is where they are best learned. So, I am not sure reorging undergrad engineering is needed. However, many educators would like to see engineering get to the level of med schools in the respect they receive, and that is a nice notion.</p>
<p>As for the individual points;</p>
<ol>
<li> Never thought this was a problem. Yes, a lot of theory is taught, but there isn't a whole lot of core knowledge that is applicable across all industries. Taking action, as an engineer, is a lot more in line with undestand core business drivers rather than engineering competencies.</li>
<li> Sounds like the education I got. Don't see how this is a fundamental change.</li>
<li> Innovation should be a task of an engineer, asking them to imitate is derogatory and counter-productive. Incorporating ethics is good for any curriculum.</li>
<li> I totally agree. Engineers are to much kept to themselves. Incorporating real world teaching and asking the student to look outside the confines of the school for leasons and practical knowledge, tuitoring, and mentoring is an excellent idea. However, how much of this should be a part of the yearly curriculum? Most of these skills and knowledges are learned through internships. If a college actually gave the engineering student a summer internship as course that would be nice.</li>
</ol>
<p>I say, leave well enough alone. Scale back some of the theory classes, add some business courses, and assign out-of-class learning opportunities.</p>
<p>It sounds like having students participate in internships would address many of these issues.</p>
<p>I do like the idea of adding some business courses into the curriculum though. It wouldn't even have to be an extra course; it can replace a few of those general humanities/social sciences courses. It would be beneficial to the students (since engineering IS a business) and would actually make them more well-rounded.</p>