Page 68 - Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century

Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11338.html

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Recommendations

ASPIRATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES OF ENGINEERS OF 2020

Within the context of the changing national and global landscape,
the Phase I committee enunciated a set of aspirations for engineers in
2020. These aspirations set the bar high but are believed attainable if a
course of action is set to reach them. At their core they call for us to
educate technically proficient engineers who are broadly educated, see
themselves as global citizens, can be leaders in business and public ser-
vice, and who are ethically grounded. The committee took the aspira-
tions a step further by setting forth the attributes needed for the gradu-
ates of 2020 to reach them. These include such traits as strong analytical
skills, creativity, ingenuity, professionalism, and leadership. It is our hope
and expectation that the implementation of the recommendations be-
low will allow these aspirations and desired attributes to be met.

REENGINEERING THE ENGINEERING
EDUCATION SYSTEM

Given the changing landscape sketched in the Phase I report, a
number of possible implications for engineering education were evi-
dent. Supplemented by discussions at the Summit and deliberations by
the Phase II committee, these “implications” formed the basis for the
recommendations set forth below.

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