Title: Engineering Education: Challenges, Opportunities, and Potential Areas for GCC Cooperation
1Engineering Education Challenges,
Opportunities, and Potential Areas for GCC
Cooperation
Rector, King Fahd University of Petroleum
Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia rector_at_kfupm.edu.sa
2Outline
- 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
3History 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.
4History 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
5History 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.
6Features 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
7The Reality!Current Weaknesses in Todays 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
8Forces Pushing for Change
- Companies employing engineering graduates
- Accreditation boards (such as ABET)
- Globalization of economy
- Engineering professional societies
- Advisory boards
9Future 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!
10The 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
11Quality 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
12Main Features of Successful Engineering Education
Programs for the Next Decade
Infrastructure
Students
Faculty
13Students
- 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
14Faculty
- 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
15Infrastructure Support
- Conducive environment that encourages high levels
of productivity - Up to date facilities of international standards
- Adopt flexible and clear rules and regulations
16- Engineering Education
- in the GCC
17Engineering Programs
- First Engineering Colleges established in early
1960s - Initially, 10 universities offered engineering
programs - 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
18First university degrees, by region 1997 and 2002
19NSE degrees per 100 24-year-olds,by country
Most recent year
20NSE degrees per 100 24-year-olds,by country
Most recent year
21Engineering 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
22Higher 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.
23Number of Engineers in KSA
24Number 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
25KFUPM and Current Trends in Engineering Education
- KFUPM prides itself to be the most prominent
engineering university in the region - Number of students in engineering
26Focus Tracks in Engineering Education at KFUPM
- Communication skills
- Online education (use of Internet)
- Innovation
- Partnership with Industry
27KFUPM Implementation Plans
- Students
- Faculty
- Industrial Technology
28 Student Development Programs
Programs
Academic Improvement Program
Personal Skills Program
29Personal Skills Program
Developing students skills that is needed by job
market
Voluntary Community services
- Special events short courses, workshops
Academic Programs
International Computer Driving License, ICDL
30Faculty 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
31Junior Faculty Development Program
Activities
Research
Teaching
- Research Workshops (DAD)
- Mentoring
- Junior faculty grant
- Industrial Experience
- Summer Assignment
- International, national and KFUPM
- workshops and conferences
- Peer consultation
- Course coordination assignment
- Technical and learning grants
- Mentoring
- Teaching exchange program
- Certification program
32-Faculty members joined the program in 2005
32Research Achievements
Research Projects Approved
() KFUPM attracts the largest number of KACST
engineering research projects in the Kingdom
33Research Outcomes
KFUPM is the only university in the region
included in the top 100 engineering institutions
worldwide (ISI-web of knowledge, December 2005)
34Instructional Technology
- Web-based courses
- Online courses
- E-learning
- Distance learning
35A. Web-based Course Development
B. Online Course Development 30 Courses
36Other 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.
37Initiatives Along ABET Requirements
- Establishment of industrial advisory boards
- Establishment of regular self-assessment programs
- Enhancement of the design communication skill
components in engineering programs
38Initiatives 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
39Opportunities for Cooperation in Engineering
Education
- Institution level
- Faculty level
- Student level
40Cooperation 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
41Cooperation in Engineering Education (Faculty)
- Faculty exchange programs
- (within industry and universities)
- Joint research programs
- Cooperation in short courses delivery
- Joint faculty development programs
42Cooperation in Engineering Education (Students)
- Student exchange programs
- Flexible student transfer among GCC institutions
- Extra curricular activities
- Student chapters of professional societies
43Concluding 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.