Journal article
Identifying, implementing and assessing the generic capabilities of a good engineer
Pedagogical Papers Series, Vol.Spring
2008
Abstract
The paper is grounded in the current need for a change both in the image and education of engineers. Universities of technology have a good track record when it comes to preparing engineers for classical engineering positions in their own society and culture. Such universities concentrate on teaching specific capabilities and testing them with traditional examinations. Such capabilities include basic knowledge in their particular area of engineering (construction, power engineering etc), solving problems related to it and the practical skills needed to use equipment in their area of expertise. Naturally graduates also learn more generic skills from associating with fellow students, organising their time and planning for exams. However, these learning outcomes are not usually a planned part of the course and may or may not have been acquired earlier. Today a new set of generic capabilities is demanded of engineering graduates. The globalisation of industry, a revolution in information communication technology, technological changes within engineering and a more critical public means that graduates need to be able to communicate in cross-cultural situations, be more aware of gender and equity issues, take into account ethical, environmental and other questions when solving problems and have the capacity to anticipate as well solve existing problems. Above all they need to be creative and resourceful in the way that renaissance engineers were. In Florence at the close of the fifteenth century the distinction between the artist and the engineer was blurred. Today's world requires a similar blurring of technical and creative skills. Today's engineer must be able think and act holistically. Much more stress is being placed on producing engineers who are not only competent in their specific disciplines but who also possess some of the generic capabilities we have mentioned. But who defines these capabilities, how can they be taught and how can they be tested? These are the questions that are the focus of this paper.
Details
- Title
- Identifying, implementing and assessing the generic capabilities of a good engineer
- Authors
- Michael Christie (Author) - Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
- Publication details
- Pedagogical Papers Series, Vol.Spring; 17
- Publisher
- Chalmers University of Technology
- Date published
- 2008
- ISSN
- 1654-3009
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2008 Michael Christie. Reproduced with permission.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Education - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450553502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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