Lifelong Learning Project

In the context discussed here, it is important to move on to a new concept of learning. The practicing engineer who wants to be on the forefront of the area in which she is working cannot assume that what he/she learned 10 - 20 years ago is still groundbreaking (or even current). Today it is important that the continuation of the learning process is intended to deepen and broaden the engineer’s knowledge and capabilities and it probably is more multi-disciplinary. The new concept in learning (as we have chosen to refer to it for now) is for the (engineering) professional who is working and doing a good job, but is doing so in a world that is changing rapidly and she might or might not be aware of these changes … until it is too late. These new programs (courses of study) should be distinguished from those courses of study offered for updating, certification, or re-certification; or from those courses for the engineer who might need re-training in order to obtain or retain employment. The focus for future programs might be a sense of “agile learning for a competitive edge” for the employed practicing engineer.

The new concept in learning is dynamic and integrative in that it pulls together ideas sensitive to industry needs from different disciplines and integrates those ideas with basic engineering training and knowledge, as well as seeking to incorporate new ideas and tools. Today’s engineer needs to be learning, changing, advancing, and staying on the cutting edge throughout her career in order to be successful in a constantly changing environment. While many “continuing education” programs are offered by professional societies and universities, a re-examination of the underlying assumptions is necessary due to the emergence of new and rapidly changing technologies. It is necessary for engineers to expand their learning over a lifetime because their career trajectories will take on more and new directions over the ensuing 40 or so years, due to the rapidly changing and increasingly complex technologies.

The new concept in learning is necessary not to fix something that is broken, but to enhance, strengthen, and introduce what is new and vital in the engineering profession. In this age of rapid technological change and knowledge creation, an engineer must continue to learn throughout her career and to be able to readily adopt and navigate new paradigms.