Engineering Education: Challenges, Opportunities, and Potential Areas for GCC Cooperation

1. Engineering Education: Challenges, Opportunities, and Potential Areas for GCC Cooperation Rector, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia rector@kfupm.edu.sa Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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 History of Engineering Education (cont…)

5. 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.

6. More focused on abstract themes Instructor centered learning Depth in specialized fields Very little use of computers, Multimedia, Internet More focused on individual efforts Features of Traditional Engineering Education

7. 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 The Reality!Current Weaknesses in Today’s Eng. Graduates

8. Companies employing engineering graduates Accreditation boards (such as ABET) Globalization of economy Engineering professional societies Advisory boards Forces Pushing for Change

9. 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!

10. 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

11. 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

12. Main Features of Successful Engineering Education Programs for the Next Decade Infrastructure Students Faculty

13. 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

14. 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

15. Infrastructure & 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

17. Engineering 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

18. First university degrees, by region: 1997 and 2002

19. NS&E degrees per 100 24-year-olds,by country: Most recent year

20. NS&E degrees per 100 24-year-olds,by country: Most recent year

21. 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

22. 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.

23. Number of Engineers in KSA

24. 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

25. 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:

26. Focus Tracks in Engineering Education at KFUPM • Communication skills • Online education (use of Internet) • Innovation • Partnership with Industry

27. KFUPM Implementation Plans • Students • Faculty • Industrial Technology

28. Student Development Programs Programs Gifted Students Program Personal Skills Program Academic Improvement Program

29. Personal Skills Program Developing students skills that is needed by job market Special events short courses, workshops Voluntary Community services Academic Programs International Computer Driving License, ICDL

30. 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

31. Junior Faculty Development Program Activities Teaching Research • International, national and KFUPM • workshops and conferences • Peer consultation • Course coordination assignment • Technical and learning grants • Mentoring • Teaching exchange program • Certification program • Research Workshops (DAD) • Mentoring • Junior faculty grant • Industrial Experience • Summer Assignment 32-Faculty members joined the program in 2005

32. Research Achievements Research Projects Approved* (*) KFUPM attracts the largest number of KACST engineering research projects in the Kingdom

33. Research Outcomes* * KFUPM is the only university in the region included in the top 100 engineering institutions worldwide (ISI-web of knowledge, December 2005)

34. Instructional Technology • Web-based courses • Online courses • E-learning • Distance learning

35. A. Web-based Course Development B. Online Course Development: 30 Courses

36. 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.

37. 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

38. 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

39. Opportunities for Cooperation in Engineering Education • Institution level • Faculty level • Student level

40. 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

41. Cooperation in Engineering Education (Faculty) • Faculty exchange programs (within industry and universities) • Joint research programs • Cooperation in short courses delivery • Joint faculty development programs

42. Cooperation in Engineering Education (Students) • Student exchange programs • Flexible student transfer among GCC institutions • Extra curricular activities • Student chapters of professional societies

43. 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.