Educating engineers for a sustainable future

Abstract

Today's engineers are required to plan, design, develop and maintain engineering projects and assets in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. While this need is being met to some degree in undergraduate programs, it is the professional engineer who has spent some time in industry after graduation who fully appreciates the requirement to balance the need for efficiency and economy in engineering practice with the wider needs of society and the increasing demand for sustainable development. To achieve this, it is necessary for the practising engineer to have an understanding of the principles of sustainable development, be innovative, have an understanding of asset management and maintenance, understand technological risks and work at the cutting edge of technology. To address this need, the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying at the University of Southern Queensland has developed a Master of Technology Management program that combines postgraduate business courses with specialised courses in engineering and technology management. The first students enrolled in this program commenced in 2003 and delivery of the first courses commenced in the first semester of 2004. Students have been attracted to these courses from fields as diverse as business administration, project management and engineering technology as well as technology management. All are studying on a part time, distance education basis. Most courses developed for this program are new, and all balance social and environmental issues with the more traditional engineering requirements for economical and sound engineering asset design, development and management. This paper describes this program, discusses the challenges faced in developing it and shows how undertaking such a program may benefit engineers and particularly those who have or aspire to managerial positions. In addition, it also describes how this type of education activity may develop future professional pathways for engineers. The authors of the paper have been extensively involved in developing the courses in the program. The education and development offered by this program is aimed at developing engineers better equipped to be leaders of the society of tomorrow.