Engineering education needs major reform warns IEEE president

Moshe Kam, pictured, made the announcement at the bi-annual meeting of the IEEE Region 8, a group formed of 160 volunteer leaders from throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Speaking to students, industry leaders and the press at Imperial College London, Kam discussed the reasons that engineering education, having gone through two cycles of major reform since World War II, is now poised for a third major restructuring. Among the features of this reform is the integration of life sciences with the disciplines of electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science. "We need to re-evaluate the skill set that engineers need in order to excel in the evolving business climate," said Kam. "Along with recognition of computing as an essential skill, we need to arm new engineers with knowledge of the disciplines of business and law that will allow them to become full partners and leaders in the design and implementation of new large scale projects." As well as the the technological challenges, Kam said that students need to be kept abreast of international trends and be taught to adapt to working in a global economy focused on services, rather than products. "A related effort of great significance is creating a better public perception of engineering," he continued. "We have an obligation to educate young children, as well as their parents and teachers, about the vital role engineering plays in improving human welfare and aiding economic recovery." The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional association dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.