EMGT500-Schupska-Engineering-and-Social-Policy

Engineering & Social Policy: 

Engineering & Social Policy Engineering Education Trends Pete Schupska EMGT 500 – August 6,2011

What is Social Policy?: 

What is Social Policy? Harvard University describes Social Policy as "public policy and practice in the areas of: H ealth Care H uman S ervices Criminal J ustice I nequality E ducation Labor Social Policy is the guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_policy

Trends in Engineering Education: 

Trends in Engineering Education http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/29/news/international/china_engineering_grads.fortune/index.htm http://www.engtrends.com/IEE/1004A.php U ndergraduate engineering majors are a shrinking proportion of the total down from 6.8% to about 4.5% over the past 20 years

Trends in Engineering Education: 

Trends in Engineering Education http://www.engtrends.com/IEE/1004A.php Most engineering discipline enrollment rates have been on the decline since the early 1990’s. The only consistent area of enrollment growth is Computer Engineering. All other disciplines have been stagnant or declining in enrollment rates. Is this trend capable of meeting the needs of society?

Trends in Engineering Education: 

Trends in Engineering Education http://www.ohio.edu/instres/student/engineering.html In addition to declining enrollment rates, graduation retention rates have been declining. This data is just one example from Ohio University.

Engineering Education Rates: 

As a result of this decline, industry leaders are worried that there will not be enough skilled engineers, scientists, and technicians to fill the growing number of high-tech jobs. http://www.yes.mtu.edu/national_need.php Engineering Education Rates In addition to declining enrollment, college bound high-school students are losing interest in science and engineering.

Trends in Engineering Education: 

The fastest growing U.S. degrees in 2007 were: Education P arks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness S tudies S ecurity and Protective S ervices How will these degrees meet the advancement needs in: Energy Environment Medicine Information Trends in Engineering Education http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/29/news/international/china_engineering_grads.fortune/index.htm Where are all the engineers going? Is this trend capable of meeting the needs of society?

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Engineering is a shrinking proportion of college enrollment First year student retention rates are declining College bound students are losing interest in science and engineering Clearly, engineering enrollment and graduation rates are declining How does the United States compare to developing nations abroad?

Engineering Education Rates: 

Engineering Education Rates http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2005/nf20051223_7594_db039.htm Looking abroad, the volume of engineering graduates from India and China can be discouraging. Are these numbers real, or some form of propaganda? During 2005, several reports circulated citing China and India’s vastly higher numbers of engineering graduates. Initial reports listed U.S. totals around 70,000 annually; India at 350,000 and China at 600,000.

Trends in Engineering Education: 

Trends in Engineering Education http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2005/nf20051223_7594_db039.htm http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/29/news/international/china_engineering_grads.fortune/index.htm Looking at graduation rates more closely, the numbers are less staggering. China still leads numerically. The initial data was inconsistent, once computer science and engineering degrees are included in all totals, and 2-3 year degrees are eliminated from China and India’s reporting, the numbers are more equal. In addition to graduation rates, China will graduate 10,000 PhD Engineers. The U.S. only 8,000, of which two thirds are not U.S. citizens.

Domestic Education Spending: 

Domestic Education Spending http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/downchart_gs.php?year=2001_2021&view=1&expand=&units=p&log=linear&fy=fy12&chart=20-total&bar=1&stack=1&size=l&title=&state=US&color=c&local=s Despite the struggling economy, U.S. federal spending on education has remained fairly steady over the past decade. Despite the economic struggles of the 2000’s U.S. Federal spending on education has remained fairly steady, with a slight upstroke at the end of the decade. Although, a decline in the coming years is forecast.

Foreign Education Spending: 

Foreign Education Spending Since 1993, China has set a target of 4% spending on education. A goal they have yet to reach. China has set a goal of 4% spending on education, which they have failed to achieve since setting the goal in 1993. In 2006, China targeted 4% by 2010. In 2010, China targeted 4% by 2012. Increasing spending has proven difficult for the country of 1.3 billion people. China has also outlined a long-term educational reform to reduced the academic workload, and develop more “all-around” students. http://www.china03/01/condaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-tent_524886.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-03/01/content_9515384.htm

Cost of a College Education: 

http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76 Cost of a College Education The cost of a college degree, in tuition and board, has increased by 50% over the last 20 years. No one should be surprised to see that the cost of a college degree, both at public and private institutions has increased by more than 50% over the past 20 years.

Cost of a College Education: 

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/05/07/number-of-the-week-class-of-2011-most-indebted-ever/ Cost of a College Education http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/22/average-student-debt-2400_n_772276.html In addition to the climbing costs, the average student is leaving college with a record level of debt. The average student debt load, for the class of 2009, was $24,000; a 6% increase from 2008.

Conclusion: 

Conclusion China outnumbers U.S. engineering graduates almost 3 to 1 Federal spending in the U.S. has been steady, China is rising American costs for college continue to rise, as does student debt Despite lower spending, China continues to graduate more engineers China may graduate more, but of what quality is their education?

Quality Engineering Education: 

Quality Engineering Education Employers continue to claim that engineering graduates are ill equipped to fill the needs of industry. In his DesignNews article “ Dumbing Down the Engineer”, Kevin Craig says “One of the greatest failures in engineering education has been the inability of graduating students to integrate all they have learned – science, mathematics, engineering fundamentals – in the solution of real-world engineering problems.” http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2008/08/has-engineering-education-failed-questions-surrounding-the-number-and-quality-of-engineering-graduates.html Are the current crop of young engineers graduating to the labor force even qualified ?

Quality Engineering Education: 

Quality Engineering Education Engineering Firms need employees who can “rapidly move on to the next-generation technologies, work well with customers, and manage R&D teams.” How can the U.S. develop more dynamic engineers? Outsourcing has been replacing transactional engineers in the United States with dynamic engineers in other countries. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2005/nf20051223_7594_db039.htm Good at fundamentals but poor at applying knowledge to broader problems Transactional Capable of abstract thinking, work well in teams, leaders of innovation Dynamic

Early Engineering: 

Early Engineering The first step is to increase enrollment and foster interest in science and engineering from a young age. Encourage and inspire more of our best and brightest students, especially those from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, to study in STEM fields. http://www.stemedcoalition.org/ To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders http://www.usfirst.org

Collegiate Activities: 

Collegiate Activities Once students are interested, how can they be retained? To provide civil engineering students an opportunity to gain hands-on, practical experience and leadership skills by working with concrete mix designs and project management. Concrete Canoe Competition This inter-collegiate challenge requires civil engineering students to design, fabricate and construct a steel bridge. Steel Bridge Competition

Collegiate Activities: 

Collegiate Activities While keeping students engaged in their discipline, these organizations teach valuable real world skills in teamwork, design and application. The ASME Student Design Competition provides a platform for teams to design, construct and operate a prototype meeting the requirements of an annually determined problem statement. ASME Student Design Competition Go beyond textbook theory by designing, building and testing the performance of a real vehicle. Join other students from around the globe in exciting and intense competitions Collegiate Design Series

Call to Action: 

Maintain Federal spending on education. Increase involvement of young students in technical fields. Involvement in Rear-World engineering experiences. Call to Action To solve the problem of declining engineering graduation rates in the United States, three actions must be adhered to. "Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.“ - Einstein