Program Offerings and Curriculum Convergence Between the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Brian E. Reed; Julia M. Ross; Brian Bowe; Gavin Duffy; Martin Gerard Rogers

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Conference: 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Publication Date: June 10, 2012
Start Date: June 10, 2012
End Date: June 13, 2012
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: International Research Experience, Quality Improvement, and Programs/Curriculum Around the Globe
Tagged Division: International
Page Count: 16
Page Numbers: 25.1077.1 - 25.1077.16
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--21834
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/21834
Download Count: 393

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Paper Authors

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Brian E. Reed University of Maryland, Baltimore County

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Brian E. Reed is a Fulbright Scholar, Dublin Institute of Technology, an educator in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, UMBC.

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Gavin Duffy is a lecturer in the School of Electrical Engineering Systems in the Dublin Institute of Technology since 2002. Before that, he worked in industry as a Chemical Engineer and Control Systems Engineer, and those are the topics that he teaches in the DIT. He is actively engaged in engineering education research and has published at several conferences. He collaborates with an engineering education research group in his college, where they use and research problem-based learning.

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Martin Gerard Rogers Dublin Institute of Technology

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Martin Gerard Rogers is Assistant Head of the School of Civil and Building Services Engineering.

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Abstract

Program Offerings and Curriculum Convergence Between the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and The University of Maryland‐Baltimore County (UMBC) Brian E. Reed, Fulbright Scholar – Dublin Institute of Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, UMBC Brian Bowe, Head of learning Development, Faculty of Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology Julia Ross, Chair, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, UMBC Recently the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at UMBC completed the process of revamping its curriculum and preparing a plan to offer a ABET accredited undergraduate degree in Environment and Water Resources Engineering (EWRE). The process began in a difficult economic period which resulted in an increased emphasis on due diligence as whether the program would succeed. The proposed EWRE program would address several UMBC academic priorities and respond to the anticipated increasing demand for training in this discipline. First, the degree program responded to a growing national and statewide initiatives in climate change and the environment. Environmental engineers, in addition to providing safe water and clean air, address many of the emerging issues associated with climate change, clean sources of energy, and sustainable development. The challenges faced by the EWRE profession today are unique and brought about by a rapidly changing world order with respect to the need for sustainable utilization of energy resources, sustainable use of material resources and production practices, proactive environmental management of emerging technologies (e.g. nanomaterials), and sustainable management of shrinking water resources that is increasingly becoming the cause of national and international conflicts. The creation of a new undergraduate engineering degree provides an opportunity to develop a program that embraces new problems and is focused on emerging issues in the field of EWRE. Second, an environmental engineering degree provides an option for UMBC engineering students beyond the available programs (mechanical, chemical/biochemical and computer engineering); this will also likely increase enrollment in UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). Third, environmental engineering is the only engineering discipline expected to grow “much faster than the average for all [engineering] occupations” (26% by 2016; http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm#outlook). As part of the degree planning process the following items where addressed: 1. An analysis of potential student enrollments in the program based on market demand, industry needs, and programs at comparably‐sized Universities. 2. A description of the additional courses and course sections that would be necessary to offer the program annually. 3. A plan for using a combination of current tenure‐track faculty members, the new tenure track faculty member, lecturers and part‐time instructors to staff the referenced courses. 4. A description of any specialized laboratories, equipment or any other significant new resources that will be necessary to offer the program. Currently the Dublin Institute of Technology is facing some of the same issues that catalyzed the UMBC effort. Brian Reed was awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award at DIT and will be part of the effort to address the issues that are facing DIT bringing a perspective that was developed at UMBC. The differences and similarities of the problems and solutions facing the two institutions will be discussed.

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Reed, B. E., & Ross, J. M., & Bowe, B., & Duffy, G., & Rogers, M. G. (2012, June), Program Offerings and Curriculum Convergence Between the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21834

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -  Program Offerings and Curriculum Convergence Between the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and                           The University of Maryland‐Baltimore County (UMBC)                                                         Brian E. Reed, Fulbright Scholar – Dublin Institute of Technology  and  Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, UMBC  Brian Bowe, Head of learning Development, Faculty of Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology  Julia Ross, Chair, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, UMBC  Recently the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at UMBC completed the process of revamping its curriculum and preparing a plan to offer a  ABET accredited undergraduate degree in Environment and Water Resources Engineering (EWRE).  The process began in a difficult economic period which resulted in an increased emphasis on due diligence as whether the program would succeed.  The proposed EWRE program would address several UMBC academic priorities and respond to the anticipated increasing demand for training in this discipline.  First, the degree program responded to a growing national and statewide initiatives in climate change and the environment.  Environmental engineers, in addition to providing safe water and clean air, address many of the emerging issues associated with climate change, clean sources of energy, and sustainable development. The challenges faced by the EWRE profession today are unique and brought about by a rapidly changing world order with respect to the need for sustainable utilization of energy resources, sustainable use of material resources and production practices, proactive environmental management of emerging technologies (e.g.  nanomaterials), and sustainable management of shrinking water resources that is increasingly becoming the cause of national and international conflicts.  The creation of a new undergraduate engineering degree provides an opportunity to develop a program that embraces new problems and is focused on emerging issues in the field of EWRE.  Second, an environmental engineering degree provides an option for UMBC engineering students beyond the available programs (mechanical, chemical/biochemical and computer engineering); this will also likely increase enrollment in UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). Third, environmental engineering is the only engineering discipline expected to grow “much faster than the average for all [engineering] occupations” (26% by 2016; http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm#outlook).    As part of the degree planning process the following items where addressed:      1.  An  analysis  of  potential  student  enrollments  in  the  program  based  on  market  demand,           industry needs, and programs at comparably‐sized Universities.      2.  A description of the additional courses and course sections that would be necessary to           offer the program annually.      3.  A plan for using a combination of current tenure‐track faculty members, the new tenure           track faculty member, lecturers and part‐time instructors to staff the referenced           courses.       4.  A description of any specialized laboratories, equipment or any other significant new           resources that will be necessary to offer the program.  Currently the Dublin Institute of Technology is facing some of the same issues that catalyzed the UMBC effort.  Brian Reed was awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award at DIT and will be part of the effort to address the issues that are facing DIT bringing a perspective that was developed at UMBC.  The differences and similarities of the problems and solutions facing the two institutions will be discussed.  
AU  - Brian E. Reed
AU  - Julia M. Ross
AU  - Brian Bowe
AU  - Gavin Duffy
AU  - Martin Gerard Rogers
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2012/06/10
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Program Offerings and Curriculum Convergence Between the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/21834
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--21834
ER  -