Looking ahead: Some trends in graduate education and their impact on engineering and technology

Abstract

In order to plan for and meet future needs, graduate education in engineering and technology should consider the current trends in both higher education and graduate education. In a time of economic uncertainty, planning and decision-making must be based on an awareness of the larger societal (and perhaps global) context in which they occur to ensure both the wisest allocation of scarce resources and the best preparation of students for their future careers. Higher education and graduate education are increasingly scrutinized and pushed to demonstrate value to the potential student (and possibly to the taxpayers who may provide funding to state-assisted public universities and institutions of higher education). Some of the current trends in graduate and higher education are reviewed to help graduate programs in engineering and technology better plan for the future. Based upon a review of current information (along the lines of trend analysis or environmental scanning typically done by businesses as part of strategic planning), some trends affecting graduate education will be identified. Trends reviewed include: some long-term enrollment predictions, economic factors for institutions and students (accountability and affordability), the goals of higher education and graduate education, and demographic characteristics and their impact. Some recent research in undergraduate education will be touched upon, particularly Arum and Roksa's Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses1, ( referred to as Academically Adrift) and examined for its potential impact on graduate education. The changes and trends affecting graduate education fall into the following themes: • Enrollment trends; with a note on gender balance and demographics • Cost (affordability) and accountability; • The job market and job preparation (purpose of graduate education), and • Rigor and student preparation for graduate study. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.