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Engineering Beyond Boundaries

 

References and reports

 

Distinguished Lecture Series

Vision for the 21st century graphic showing the Engineering Centers Building at night.

The College of Engineering is creating a model for leadership in research and higher education that meets the challenges of an increasingly global and interdisciplinary environment. These lectures unite the university community with leaders in technology, education and organizational transformation whose insights transcend disciplines.

These perspectives will inspire faculty, staff and students and enrich the ongoing conversation about shaping the future of the College of Engineering and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ENGINEERING EDUCATION FOR THE 21st CENTURY
by William A. Wulf, President, National Academy of Engineering

Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 3:30 P.M., 1800

[Video]

William A. Wulf

Accelerating change in the global marketplace has profoundly altered how we design and deliver goods and services. The practice of engineering has changed drastically in response, but with rare exception the curriculum and the pedagogy by which it is delivered to engineering students has changed very little.

As professional engineering educators, we must address how and who we attract to engineering school, how we retain those students in the study of engineering and, once having graduated, in the profession. We must question the notion that the BS degree alone qualifies our graduates to practice engineering and examine the real-world experiences of the faculty we hire and the system of faculty rewards that sets our priorities.

With technology impacting the everyday lives of every person nearly 24/7 and global technology issues impacting the well-being of our society in such monumental and unexpected ways, we as engineers must also concern ourselves with the technological literacy of all our people and especially of those we choose to represent us in making important public policy decisions impacting our future.