Challenges to future engineering professionals - how to prepare students to face them

Abstract

Today's graduates acquire knowledge that will not be sufficient for a lifetime career and, in some instances, will become obsolete in a matter of just a few years. Facing the predicted 3 to 6 career changes in one's lifetime and an ever growing volume of knowledge needed, preparation of students must be a little different in the future. Should the engineering education process concentrate on teaching 'specialists' or 'generalists'? What do we know about the knowledge and skills that will define a successful engineering professional? Product Realization Skills (PRS) - knowledge and skills that form the core of presently demanded engineering competencies are described along with problems in effective teaching of PRS. The paper analyzes various skills valued by engineering and technology professionals and educators, as well as the changes in the importance of these skills. Weaknesses in preparation of engineering graduates as seen by industrial leaders and engineers from different countries are also presented.