Transcript Title
Engineering Education:
Challenges, Opportunities, and Potential
Areas for GCC Cooperation
Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan
Rector,
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
[email protected]
Outline
Historical Overview of Engineering Education
The Future of Engineering Education:
Challenges and Opportunities
Engineering Education in KSA
KFUPM and Current Trends in Engineering
Education
Opportunities for cooperation within GCC
Concluding Remarks
2
History of Engineering Education
From prehistoric times, engineers have
always led humanity for a better life.
Till 1800s, engineering education was
learned by apprenticeship (emphasis on
hands-on experience).
After 1800s, universities and colleges in
Europe and US, started granting formal
engineering degrees.
3
History of Engineering Education
(cont…)
In 1870, there were 17 universities
teaching engineering in the US, growing to
110 schools in 1890.
During same period, only 10% of practicing
engineers were college graduates.
End of 1800s, professional engineering
societies started to flourish
Early 1900s, laws governing licensing &
certifications are introduced
4
History of Engineering Education
(cont…)
In 1932, ABET established: The beginning
of an era of accreditation.
1950-1990, focus on engineering sciences,
analysis, faculty expected to carry
research
After 1990 - now, focus on teamwork,
communications, integration, design,
continuous improvement, while
maintaining analytical skills.
5
Features of Traditional
Engineering Education
More focused on abstract themes
Instructor centered learning
Depth in specialized fields
Very little use of computers, Multimedia,
Internet
More focused on individual efforts
6
The Reality!
Current Weaknesses in
Today’s Eng. Graduates
Weakness in understanding manufacturing
processes
Mostly analysts in specific areas
Narrow view of engineering
No understanding of quality process
Weak communication skills
Lack of design capabilities
Weak teamwork & project management skills
7
Forces Pushing for Change
Companies employing engineering graduates
Accreditation boards (such as ABET)
Globalization of economy
Engineering professional societies
Advisory boards
8
Future Technological Challenges
of the 21st Century
Main Features
Information: Proliferation
Tech. development: Multidisciplinary
Markets: Globalized
Environment: Endangered
Social responsibility: Engineering
Corporate structure: Participatory
Change: Rapid!
9
The Ideal!
21st Century Engineering Skills Essential
for Competitive Graduates:
Strong technical capability
Skills in communication and persuasion
Ability to lead and work effectively as a member of a
team
Understanding of the non-technical forces that
profoundly influence engineering decisions
Commitment to lifelong learning
Skills in design and project management
Multidisciplinary
10
Quality Control for
Engineering Programs
Educational quality control is the cornerstone for
successful engineering program
Such quality control takes place through
accreditation
Accreditation reflects a professional judgment that
certain students are met
Acts as a benchmark for quality
Accreditation is usually voluntary and conducted
by peers
11
Main Features of Successful
Engineering Education Programs
for the Next Decade
Students
Faculty
Infrastructure
12
Students
Attract the best students in physical &
mathematical sciences with leadership potential
Educate & motivate engineering students to be
ready:
to implement new technology
to focus on innovation
to understand global trends
13
Faculty
Select faculty with top engineering background
Select faculty with excellent potential in carrying
innovative research and providing leadership with
a global look
Select faculty committed to a dynamic teaching
environment
Provide faculty with opportunities for self
development
Facilitate cooperation with industry & the society
at large
14
Infrastructure & Support
Conducive environment that encourages high
levels of productivity
Up to date facilities of international standards
Adopt flexible and clear rules and regulations
15
Engineering Education
in the GCC
16
Engineering Programs
First Engineering Colleges
established in early 1960s
Country
Initially, 10 universities offered
engineering programs
No. Eng. St.
(2005)
KSA
14,000
Qatar
1,000
Kuwait
2,500
Bahrain
1,800
UAE
3,800
Oman
1,600
By 2005, more than 30
colleges/universities offered
engineering programs
There is an increase in the
number of private
colleges/universities
New alliances with overseas
universities were formed.
Still, Number of engineering
students per capita is still very
low compared to developed
countries
17
First university degrees, by region: 1997 and 2002
18
NS&E degrees per 100 24-year-olds,
by country: Most recent year
19
NS&E degrees per 100 24-year-olds,
by country: Most recent year
Qatar
2.9
Bahrain
2.5
1.5
Saudi Arabia
0.5
Oman
0
5
10
15
20
Degrees/100 24 years old
20
Engineering Programs in Saudi Arabia
In 1962, First Engineering College
established
Currently, 13 colleges/universities offer
Engineering degrees
Some Engineering programs have
attained ABET substantial equivalency
Several universities established
MS/PhD programs
21
Higher Education in KSA (2004/2005)
Total Number of Bachelor Students: 481,042
Total Number of Engineering Students: 13,071
Total Number of MS Students: 7,843
Total Number of PhD Students: 1,806
China aims at graduating 1 MILLION engineers
a year.
22
Number of Engineers in KSA
Sector
Saudis
Number
Public
5777
Private 16028
Total
21805
%
Expatriates
Number
Grand
Total
%
76
1856
24
7633
16
83052
84
99080
20.4
84908
79.6
106713
23
Number of Engineers in KSA (cont.)
Number of Engineers for every
100,000 currently 486 including
expatriate
Number of Saudi Engineers for
every 100,000 currently 120
Compared to some neighboring
countries, there is a need for an
additional 100,000 engineers in the
Kingdom
24
KFUPM and Current Trends
in Engineering Education
KFUPM prides itself to be the most prominent
engineering university in the region
Number of students in engineering:
Year
Students
1963
65
1990
2489
2000
4102
2005
4055
25
Focus Tracks in Engineering
Education at KFUPM
Communication skills
Online education (use of Internet)
Innovation
Partnership with Industry
26
KFUPM Implementation Plans
Students
Faculty
Industrial Technology
27
Student Development Programs
Programs
Personal
Skills
Program
Academic
Improvement
Program
Gifted
Students
Program
28
Personal Skills Program
Developing students skills
that is needed by job market
Special events
short courses,
workshops
International Computer
Driving License, ICDL
Voluntary
Community
services
Academic
Programs
29
Faculty Development Programs
Establishment of Deanship of Academic
Development
Junior faculty programs
Encouraging Use of Technology in Teaching
Promoting Excellence in Research
Summer professional development programs with
industry
Involvement of practicing engineers from industry
in teaching
Support of faculty in organizing international
conferences and workshops
30
Junior Faculty Development Program
Activities
Teaching
International, national and KFUPM
workshops and conferences
Peer consultation
Course coordination assignment
Technical and learning grants
Mentoring
Teaching exchange program
Certification program
Research
Research Workshops (DAD)
Mentoring
Junior faculty grant
Industrial Experience
Summer Assignment
32-Faculty members joined the program in 2005
31
Research Achievements
Research Projects Approved*
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
(*) KFUPM attracts the largest number of KACST
engineering research projects in the Kingdom 32
Research Outcomes*
Srl. #
Description
02-03 03-04
1
Publication in referred
journals reported
784
846
2
Publication in
conference
proceedings reported
318
356
3
Books published and
contributed
24
27
* KFUPM is the only university in the region
included in the top 100 engineering institutions
worldwide (ISI-web of knowledge, December 2005)
33
Instructional Technology
Web-based courses
Online courses
E-learning
Distance learning
34
A. Web-based Course Development
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
11
12
21
22
31
32
41
42
B. Online Course Development: 30 Courses
35
Other Initiatives to Strengthen
Engineering Education at KFUPM
Strengthening partnership with industry by
establishing chair positions
Improving coop programs for applied sciences
with major industry partners
Enhancing profile of annual career day
The “wireless campus” initiative
The “laptop for every student” initiative
Enhancing campus network to facilitate on-line
teaching.
36
Initiatives Along ABET
Requirements
Establishment of industrial advisory boards
Establishment of regular self-assessment
programs
Enhancement of the design & communication
skill components in engineering programs
37
Initiatives in Promoting
GCC Cooperation
Simplified regulations for business and trade
Unified Customs tariffs and Currency
Cooperation within the electricity sector
(connection grid, standards, etc..)
Stronger cooperation among educational
institutions & professional societies
38
Opportunities for Cooperation
in Engineering Education
Institution level
Faculty level
Student level
39
Cooperation in Engineering Education
(Institution)
Formal coordination among engineering colleges
(eg. Gulf Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology)
Standard entrance exams
Linkage of IT resources (eg. Libraries)
Cooperation in distance learning
Unified engineering certification process
Joint organization of conferences /workshops
40
Cooperation in Engineering Education
(Faculty)
Faculty exchange programs
(within industry and universities)
Joint research programs
Cooperation in short courses delivery
Joint faculty development programs
41
Cooperation in Engineering Education
(Students)
Student exchange programs
Flexible student transfer among GCC
institutions
Extra curricular activities
Student chapters of professional societies
42
Concluding Remarks
To cope with the rapid technology
advances, it is imperative to develop
aggressive plans and programs to meet the
challenges of the 21st century
The future of engineering in the region is at
stake: our programs need to be formulated
to graduate engineers able to take a leading
role in the community.
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