Proven skills: the new yardstick for schools
Article Abstract:
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology has modified its rules for accrediting engineering schools to reflect the current state of the profession, noting that results are more important than curricula and emphasizing proof of real-world skills. Technical competence alone is not enough to make a good engineer today. Employers demand 'soft' skills such as interpersonal communications and teamwork; other issues include ethics and placing engineering problems in context. The new EC 2000 criteria replace criteria first developed in the 1950s and amended over the years as technologies evolved. EC 2000 has been extensively pilot-tested and is now the sole set of criteria for judging all American engineering programs. Its four basic principles are setting educational objectives, assessing outcomes, teaching soft skills and emphasizing continuous improvement for both schools and graduates. The scheme specifies a variety of assessments and warns students that they must commit to life-long learning after graduation.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 2000
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Let us entertain you: Schools where students learn the technology of creating fun
Article Abstract:
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Washington are creating new engineering programs that teach how to engineer theme parks, theatrical productions, sports events and other large-scale entertainment. The purpose of this program is to help students find their way into this kind of 'dream career' and to develop state-of-the-art entertainment design.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 2004
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U.S. defense dollars for computer science plunge
Article Abstract:
The ideas of scientists and professors were not funded and turned down especially those related to computer science. The level of support that Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) used to offer to university computer science research has dropped sharply. The general feeling is that lots of wealthy IT companies should be funding such research.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 2006
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