While the author raises a few valid points about problems in the teaching of engineering, his claim that flaws in teaching are the cause of "students leaving enginering" is probably wrong. With all its imperfections, engineering education in America remains one of the best in the world. I think the main reason american students have a diminished interest in engineering is that demand for engineers is being satisfied at a lower cost by other countries. The market value of an engineer has decreased by an increased supply of good ingineers produced abroad. As a consequence companies: (1) import engineers from abroad,(2) if immigration hassles and cost differences are too significant, they ship the jobs to where the engineers are. Given this economic realities, it seems the number of engineers in america will continue to decrease. Of course, there will always be a core of elite enigineers who are at the cutting edge, and they will continue to be highly paid and regarded in the US. But that's what they are, an elite. Capitalism cuts both ways...
Slashdot Mirror
While the author raises a few valid points about problems in the teaching of engineering, his claim that flaws in teaching are the cause of "students leaving enginering" is probably wrong. With all its imperfections, engineering education in America remains one of the best in the world. I think the main reason american students have a diminished interest in engineering is that demand for engineers is being satisfied at a lower cost by other countries. The market value of an engineer has decreased by an increased supply of good ingineers produced abroad. As a consequence companies: (1) import engineers from abroad,(2) if immigration hassles and cost differences are too significant, they ship the jobs to where the engineers are. Given this economic realities, it seems the number of engineers in america will continue to decrease. Of course, there will always be a core of elite enigineers who are at the cutting edge, and they will continue to be highly paid and regarded in the US. But that's what they are, an elite. Capitalism cuts both ways...