A systems model for global engineering education: The 15 Grand Challenges

Abstract

This is a position paper on connecting engineering education to the prevailing needs of society. Engineering is the foundation for national development and engineers work at the intersection of science, technology, and societal needs. Throughout history, engineering has played a crucial role in the advancement of commerce, development of society, and the pursuit of human welfare. The application of engineering to the problems of society is predicated on structured education programs. This paper addresses how engineering education is progressively important to society and what must be done to continually advance the quality and effectiveness of engineering education. The paper proposes 15 grand challenges for global engineering education, based on the premise of the 14 grand challenges for engineering published in 2008 by the US National Academy of Engineering and highlights the role of diverse disciplinary viewpoints needed to ensure that engineering education addresses economic, cultural, and social factors that impinge upon engineering solutions to societal problems. The premise of the paper is to spark more interest in research into models, techniques, and tools essential for making engineering education more robust in solving global society problems.