Technical Standards in Engineering Education: Present Challenges Across Professional Sectors
- Conference
- Location
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Portland, Oregon
- Publication Date
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June 23, 2024
- Start Date
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June 23, 2024
- End Date
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July 12, 2024
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Engineering Libraries Division (ELD)
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/48078
Paper Authors
Amy Kurr University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ms. Amy Kurr is a polymer engineer with three years of experience as an electromechanical design engineer for Schneider Electric where she served as a technical product owner for electrical protective devices (e.g., shunt trips, miniature circuit breakers, panel boards, electrical cables). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in Macromolecular Science and Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. Ms. Kurr completed her Spanish Business Certificate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering from the University of Tennessee’s Bredesen Center.
Jimmy Landmesser Jr. UT-Battelle
Abstract
The need for technical standards that accurately represent today's growing infrastructure, electrification efforts, and enhanced digitalization touches all sectors of the engineering workforce and beyond. However, engineers, students, and educators lack training in the development and implementation of technical standards. These challenges are expressed in technical committee meetings, in office rooms after hiring a new engineering intern, and by educators across engineering disciplines seeking ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.). We hypothesize that the technical standards challenges faced by the collective engineering profession are similar. A survey about the importance of and challenges presented by technical standards was completed by participants (N = 201) from multiple disciples, educational levels, and backgrounds across the United States. This paper analyzes the written responses provided in response to the survey (N = 149). Participant responses highlight seven technical standards challenges: education, awareness, appreciation, accessibility, interpretation, application, and logistics. Participant responses highlight five reasons technical standards education is important: safety/best practice, practical application, expectations of the profession, employment and business, and foundation/career development.
Kurr, A., & Landmesser, J. (2024, June), Technical Standards in Engineering Education: Present Challenges Across Professional Sectors Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/48078
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