Current Trends in Engineering Education

1. Frank P. Incropera College of Engineering University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana, USA 46556-5637 University of Bonn Federal Republic of Germany March 11, 2002 Current Trends in Engineering Education

2. Central Issues In Engineering Education Some Thoughts from the Late Eighties • Manufacturingand linkages withDesign: • ConcurrentEngineering and the Product Realization Process • Growing Role of theComputer and Software Tools • Simulation, Visualization, Design • Growing Importance of Information Technologies in All Disciplines • Incipience ofMultidisciplinary Education • Comprehensive University / Industry Relations

3. Central Issues in Engineering Education The Twenty-First Century • Manufacturing and Design in Micro and Nano Scales: MEMS and NEMS • Growing importance of Biological Sciences • Increasing Pressure to Transcend Traditional Academic Boundaries: Multidisciplinary Education • Reduce rigidity of curriculum requirements and increase flexibility: Programs of study that meld previously disparate disciplines • Ever Expanding Impact of Information Technologies: The Internet and Wireless Communication Technologies • Asynchronous and Synchronous Distance Learning • The Virtual University • The Virtual Laboratory Experience • e-learning Courses

4. Central Issues in Engineering Education The Twenty-First Century (continued) • Socialization of Learning • Student Centered Learning Activities • Relations with Industry: An Alternative Model • Innovation and Entrepreneurship • The Engineering / Business Interface • Globalization • International Study and Work Experience

5. Some New Directions at theUniversity of Notre Dame • First-Year Courses onIntroduction to Engineering Systems • Multidisciplinary, Experiential and Contextual • Faculty participation from all disciplines • Projects involve analysis, design, buildandtestactivities that cross disciplinary boundaries and involve real applications • Interactive and Collaborative • Shift from faculty- and lecture-centered activities to student-centered activities • Numerous team-based activities

6. New Directions (continued) A PrototypeLearning Center • Computer Clustersfor Collaborative Simulation and Design Activities • Prototype Fabricationand Test Equipment • Facilities for Conducting Experiments • Group Work and Study Spaces • Multimedia Presentation and Demonstration Area

7. New Directions (continued) Learning Center in New Engineering Building

8. New Directions (continued) Bioengineering • A term with multiple meanings and implications • Medical Engineering • Prostheses • Diagnostic and Surgical Tools • Biotechnology • Bioinformatics • Biosensors • Tissue Engineering • Environmental Engineering/Science • Remediation of organic wastes • Biological destruction of carcinogens and toxic chemicals • Required molecular and cellular biology course for all engineering students • Departmental elective courses

9. New Directions (continued) Integrated Engineering/Business Practice Courses • Fundamentals:  The Corporation and it Financial Processes  Human Resources and Management Processes  Innovation Processes  Supply Chain Processes and Quality • Advanced Topics:  eBusiness, Globalization, Outsourcing  Entrepreneurship, Logistics  Business Plans and Business Simulations