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Looking Ahead

ASEE Prism, Sep 2006 by Wormley, David N

In the coming months, the ASEE community will examine engineering's vital role at every level.

I AM PLEASED to serve as president of the American Society for Engineering Education. In ASEE's 113-year history, this year is particularly important with respect to the national interest in engineering and its role in the economic vitality, security and health of the nation's citizens. Important aspects of the contributions of engineering to these critical national issues have been highlighted in two recent reports and one book:

* "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future," National Academies, 2006

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* "The Engineer of 2020," National Academy of Engineering

* "The World Is Flat," Thomas L. Friedman, 2005

These publications identify the essential need for and the role of engineers in advancing the nation's health and welfare. They also cite the importance of engineering's contributions to innovation and the introduction of new technologies into the global economy. In particular, the National Academies' report identifies the need for future engineers to prepare for careers that require increased emphasis on the creative and innovative aspects of engineering.

The American Society for Engineering Education has a critical role in advancing engineering and engineering technology education during this time of heightened national interest in engineering's role. In the plenary session at this year's annual conference, a Socratic dialogue was conducted to address "What Is an Effective Education for the Future and How Is It Best Learned?" The plenary initiated the ASEE Year of Dialogue, which will be focused at every level within the organization on how the ASEE community can advance engineering and engineering technology based on the wisdom and experience of faculty and students, as well as industry and government professionals. Work is already in progress under the leadership of Immediate Past-President Ron Barr to have meetings in each of our 12 sections building on the dialogue that began at the ASEE annual conference. The goal of these meetings is to engage all of our members in the task of developing the education necessary to produce effective global professionals for 2020 and beyond. In each issue of this year's Prism, leading engineering educators will be writing about the Year of Dialogue.

This effort will also be supported and strongly informed by engineering and engineering technology education research published in the Journal of Engineering Education and with research and best practices that will appear in the new ASEE Web-based online journal that's currently being launched. Our members are encouraged to identify their own and their colleagues' educational research efforts that are appropriate for publishing in both the print and the online journals.

In light of the effort focused on the Year of Dialogue and with the emphasis on global engineering, ASEE's work with educators across the world has never been more timely. We need to draw collectively from the best thoughts and wisdom from around the world to produce graduates who can truly make a difference from a global perspective in the future. To further these efforts, ASEE has become the home for IACEE, a global continuing engineering education society, and will sponsor the 5th Global Colloquium on Engineering Education this fall in Rio de Janeiro. The efforts to engage the global engineering community will be accelerated during this coming year at ASEE.

Finally, we could not engage collectively in developing the education for the global engineer of 2020 and beyond without focusing on prospective engineers and the critical need to attract and provide an education for prospective students, especially those from historically underrepresented groups. It is clear that these efforts must be significantly increased to make younger students more aware of engineering and engineering technology careers. To do this, we must join forces with K-12 students and teachers. This effort will be facilitated by ASEE's new K-12 Division and K-12 Engineering Center in Washington. For example, the development of the outstanding publication "Engineering, Go for It!" has been a significant success, and plans are in progress for the next edition, which will bring the number of copies published in excess of 1 million. Significant opportunities exist for ASEE members to become engaged in ASEE's K-12 activities and to have a measurable impact on students entering the profession.

In closing, I am deeply honored to serve as ASEE's president. I look forward to working with our members in furthering the important goals of advancing engineering and engineering technology education, strengthening our global connections and engaging prospective students in our profession.

David N. Wormley is the president of ASEE and the dean of the College of Engineering at Penn State University.

Looking Ahead

ASEE Prism, Sep 2006 by Wormley, David N

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