Role of globalization and sustainable engineering practice in the future civil engineering education

Abstract

We are living in a world that is increasingly interconnected. Countries and their social, constructed, and natural environments demonstrate emerging interdependencies that must be considered in planning and selecting engineering projects. Immediate access to information is everywhere and, in many respects, geographic proximity is becoming less important to the success of a project. Engineers will need to deal with ever-increasing globalization and find ways to prosper within an integrated international environment, and meeting challenges which cross cultural, language, legal, and political boundaries, while respecting critical cultural constraints and differences. Sustainable engineering practice should meet human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and protecting environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future development. This paper addresses the issue of sustainable engineering practice in the context of globalization. It is based on the efforts made by the members of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)-Body of Knowledge (2 edition) committee in ensuring that a civil engineer of 2020 and beyond will have the requisite understanding of globalization and sustainable engineering practices to enter into the practice of the profession. Specifically, the paper addresses the critical aspects of a sustainable civil society sought by the global profession of civil engineering; and the approach to realization within ASCE.