Focus on the Future: A National Action Plan for Career-Long Education for Engineers.

Overview & Synopsis

This report had its origins in a request by the Council of the National Academy of Engineering to its Education Advisory Board (EAB) to consider selected aspects of the fundamental structure of engineering education. There was professional agreement that probably the least effective and appreciated aspect of engineering education was that which occurred after initial, formal campus training, and that rapidly changing technology and global economic competition would call for even more effective efforts for career-long education in the future. Part 1 of the report establishes the rationale for strengthening career-long education for engineers. Part 2 suggests a national action plan for such career-long education by discussing the need for: (1) a national coalition; (2) a systems approach; (3) employer support for education objectives; (4) a broadening of the mission of educational institutions; (5) government action to foster career-long education; and (6) increased leadership from professional societies and other groups. In addition to a reference list of 25 citations, the document contains four appendices which address the "Return on Investment in Career-Long Education"; "Adult Learning and the Engineer"; "Characteristics of a Successful Education Program in a Large or Medium-Size Company"; and "Study Contributors." (PK)