Engineering education in the Middle East and North Africa: An industry perspective

Abstract

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is poised to undergo tremendous industrial development on the way to diversify its economy and become less dependent on oil and gas revenues. Industrial development has always been linked to the ingenuity and innovation of engineering minds. In this chapter, we examine engineering education in the MENA region from the perspective of a large industrial organization that has been depending on engineers, training them and developing them for more than 30 years. The critical engineering skills required by industry are discussed and the role of engineering education in helping industry succeed is emphasized. Close collaboration between industry and engineering schools is very important in order to ensure that students are well prepared to join the workforce and contribute to solving industry’s and society’s problems. This collaboration should focus not only on technical abilities but also on developing soft skills. Critical thinking and problem solving stand out as leading skills that are highly required for engineering graduates to succeed in industry. These skills also need more attention from engineering programs in the region in order to prepare the professional engineers needed by industry. Other important aspects of engineering education in the region include the role of internships, research and innovation, and the critical importance of integrating safety into engineering education.