Purdue's Engineer Of 2020: The Journey
- Conference
- Location
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Austin, Texas
- Publication Date
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June 14, 2009
- Start Date
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June 14, 2009
- End Date
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June 17, 2009
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Educational Research and Methods
- Page Count
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14
- Page Numbers
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14.997.1 - 14.997.14
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--5160
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/5160
- Download Count
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649
Paper Authors
James Jones Purdue University
James D. Jones is the Associate Head and Associate Professor of the School of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Jones is co-director of the Purdue's Engineer of 2020 committee. He earned a BS degree from Tennessee Technological University and MS and PhD degrees from Virginia Polytechnic and State University. His research interests include cooperative learning, acoustics, vibrations,smart materials and intelligent structures.
Peter Meckl Purdue University
Michael Harris Purdue University
Michael T. Harris is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering at Purdue University. He is co-chair of the Purdue's Engineer of 2020 committee. Dr. Harris earned a B.S. degree from Mississippi State University and M.S.and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has focused on teaching undergraduate engineering fluid mechanics, statistics and particulate systems classes. His research interests include nanomaterials, computational fluid mechanics, pharmaceutical powders, environmental control technology and most recently engineering education.
Monica Cox Purdue University
Osman Cekic Purdue University
Osman Cekic is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University.
Martin Okos Purdue University
Martin Okos is a Professor in the School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University.
Osvaldo Campanella Purdue University
Osvaldo Campanella is a professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University
Neal Houze Purdue University
R. Neal Houze is a professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University.
James Litster Purdue University
James Litster is a professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University.
Nathan Mosier
Nathan Mosier is an assistant professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University.
Bernard Tao Purdue University
Bernard Tao is a professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University.
Daniel Delaurentis Purdue University
Danieal Delaurentis is an assistant professor in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University.
David Radcliffe Purdue University
David Radcliffe is a distinguished professor of Engineering Education at Purdue University.
Kathleen Howell Purdue University
Kathleen Howell is a professor in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University
Masataka Okutsu Purdue University
Masataka Okutsu is a postdoctoral researchers in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University.
Sean Brophy Purdue University
Amy Penner Purdue University
Amy Penner is a graduate student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University.
Alice Wilson Purdue University
Alice Wilson is a graduate student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University.
Leah Jamieson Purdue University
Dean Leah Jamieson is the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering/Ransburg Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Jamieson earned a BS degree from MIT and MA, MSE and PhD degrees from Princeton. She is co-founder and past director of Purdue's Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program. Dr. Jamieson is the 2007 President and CEO of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineering and she is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Her research interests ;include engineering education,computer engineering and signal processing.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
PURDUE'S ENGINEER OF 2020: THE JOURNEY Abstract To remain competitive in a financially uncertain and increasingly changing global economy, engineering companies and businesses need a workforce that is not only technically competent, but that is broadly knowledgeable, adaptable, and nimble. Our studies have shown that the skill sets industry is seeking to survive is becoming ever broader. While the ABET a-k criteria have added to the breadth of most engineering curricula, there are many key skills that are not emphasized in these criteria such as leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, managing change, etc. Our Engineer of 2020 initiative has served as a catalyst to encourage our faculty to consider what are the critical skills and abilities our graduates are going to need in this new century. The initiative began in 2004 after the release of the NAE publication The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century. Our previous ABET review had already established that companies are seeking an increasingly broader set of skills in graduates, what we have termed “renaissance engineers.” These are engineering graduates that are technically competent, but also broadly knowledgeable about many other areas of both a technical and non-technical nature. But how do you adapt an engineering program to meet the changing needs of graduates of the 21st century? Our first step was to engage our faculty and other constituents (alums, employers, students, etc.) in an extended discussion about what are the target attributes we need to be developing in students. After two years of discussions and at times heated debate, the Purdue’s Engineer of 2020 Target Attributes were approved by our faculty. The next stage of our initiative has been to develop methods to advocate curricular change directed at fostering development of the target attributes. Our strategies for fostering change include: Engineer of 2020 Workshop, Engineer of 2020 Seed Grant Program, Travel Funds to Strategic Workshops and Conferences, and Sharing of Best Practices. This paper describes the “journey” that has been undertaken thus far and our strategies for developing assessment tools to monitor our progress as we implement the Purdue’s Engineer of 2020 initiative in the College of Engineering at Purdue University.
Introduction
Purdue University has a long and widely recognized tradition of educating high quality engineers, and intends to sustain that tradition. Recent national and international trends, validated by surveys of graduating students, indicate that what is required of an excellent engineer now has evolved from past expectations. The attributes that characterized industry and alumni demands of engineering education in the 1970s-1980s have changed substantially in the past two decades. A recent book by Sheppard, Macatangay, Colby and Sullivan1 delineates many areas where changes are needed in preparing tomorrow’s engineers. Therefore, Purdue’s College of Engineering has embarked on a journey to redefine engineering education for the 21st century. This process essentially involves two phases: Phase I sought to enumerate the essential attributes of a successful graduating engineer; this phase is now complete. In Phase II, innovative changes to courses and the curriculum will be encouraged so that these attributes can be enhanced. This phase is now underway. Through this process, Purdue’s College of Engineering will extend its tradition of excellence while remaining adaptive to changing demands and expectations.
Jones, J., & Meckl, P., & Harris, M., & Cox, M., & Cekic, O., & Okos, M., & Campanella, O., & Houze, N., & Litster, J., & Mosier, N., & Tao, B., & Delaurentis, D., & Radcliffe, D., & Howell, K., & Okutsu, M., & Brophy, S., & Penner, A., & Wilson, A., & Jamieson, L. (2009, June), Purdue's Engineer Of 2020: The Journey Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5160
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