|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
The following HTML text is provided to enhance online readability. Many aspects of typography translate only awkwardly to HTML. Please use the page image as the authoritative form to ensure accuracy. Page 72 6
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
Page 72 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 72
Page 72
6
Conclusions and Recommendations
The following conclusions drawn from the deliberations of the
panel are paired with recommendations for action (if any) needed to
address that problem or circumstance.
Conclusion
In the past, the engineering supply system has responded well to
changing societal demand. The engineering institutions have proven
to be remarkably adaptable in practice, and individual engineers
have generally been flexible in responding to change—although
spot shortages and a certain amount of individual hardship have not
been entirely avoided. Despite numerous stresses, the system
continues to function reasonably well today.
Recommendation
Because the system is working reasonably well in meeting demand
at the present time, no precipitous actions should be taken that
would alter its basic functioning under present conditions.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, because of the rapidity of technological, market,
and social change, the panel cannot be confident that the
engineering supply system will continue to be sufficiently adaptive
in the future.
Recommendation
To permit the timely recognition of future problems as they
develop, some means of monitoring the functioning of the
engineering supply system should be put in place. Based on
short-term (e.g., industry recruitment and government research
grants) as well as
OCR for page 73
Page 73
long-term (e.g., trends and projections) data, this approach
would provide an engineering-specific complement to the excellent
Science Indicators report prepared biennially by the National
Science Board. In addition, methods should be explored for
increasing the responsiveness of the system at such time as should
be required. One approach would be to regularly construct scenarios
of events and responses, based on historical case studies and
engineering manpower models, in order to test the effectiveness of
potential interventions.
Conclusion
The system has been able to respond adequately to changing
demand largely because: (1) the engineering educational system is
diversified and flexible enough to adapt institutionally and
pedagogically to new requirements, and (2) students react quickly
to economic signals in opting for or against an engineering career
and in choosing specific fields of engineering study.
Recommendation
In order to retain the responsiveness of engineers and of the
overall system, engineering schools should not introduce greater
specialization into their curricula. Instead, they should continue
to emphasize basic skills and interdisciplinary study.
Conclusion
The current shortage of faculty makes it difficult for
engineering schools to offer a high degree of specialized training
while still offering the broad, balanced education necessary for
maintaining adaptability in the engineering system.
Recommendation
Alternate sources of faculty, such as practicing engineers ''on
loan" from industry, should be developed (although it must be
recognized that there are serious disincentives for practicing
engineers to participate; nor do all competent engineers make
competent teachers). Increased use of teaching assistants and
non-Ph.D. faculty would also expand a school's teaching capacity.
Perhaps the most exciting potential, however, lies in new ways of
teaching. The engineering educational system should utilize
educational technology to the fullest in developing alternate
methods of instruction. Computer-aided instruction, computer
simulations, and the creative use of satellite technology for
voice-video-data communications are among the most promising
opportunities.
Conclusion
Social values and attitudes play an increasingly important role
in establishing and altering patterns of demand for
engineering-related products.
Recommendation
Engineering education should be structured to instill in the
student the knowledge that engineering is a social enter-
OCR for page 74
Page 74
prise, having social ramifications, and that the innovation and
management of complex technical systems involves consideration of
social preferences and impacts as well as economic and political
realities. Engineers should be trained to view their work in light
of anticipated criticism on the basis of social impacts. In
addition, the engineering professional societies can be
instrumental in informing engineers on these matters and addressing
broad political and social issues on behalf of the profession.
Conclusion
Both directly and indirectly, the federal government has become
a dominant user of engineering goods and services. (Some 15 percent
of engineers are employed directly, another 30 percent or more
indirectly.) As a result, the panel is concerned about the relative
balance in civil and government utilization of these goods and
services, and its impact on the strength of the commercial
infrastructure. It is also concerned about the ways in which this
increasing "public sector" demand affects the structure, content,
and orientation of engineering education.
Recommendation
Some mechanism and methodology should be devised for determining
whether (and to what extent) necessary civil applications of
engineering goods and services are being compromised through
governmental competition. The shifting balance between the market
context for engineering and the public context should be monitored
by this means. When necessary, government should endeavor to
restore a healthy balance through appropriate actions (for example,
by improving R&D in support of elements of the commercial
infrastructure).
Conclusion
The introduction of new techniques and technologies (including
all those associated with automation) is likely to create
considerable job displacement among workers in both the
manufacturing and service sectors. These trends may then generate
political and social pressures having strong implications for
engineering, as was seen in connection with environmental issues
during the 1970s.
Recommendation
The engineering profession should recognize the seriousness of
this issue but should understand that it is also a management
problem and a political problem. Mechanisms should be set up to
monitor the employment impacts of automation and to identify the
points at which political and technological intervention may be
useful or necessary. This monitoring should comprise more than just
the collection of statistical employment data. It should also
include
OCR for page 75
Page 75
directed studies (perhaps longitudinal) of the economic impacts
of technological unemployment on individuals and groups.
Conclusion
Current engineering students are generally among the most able
in their age cohort, with high ability in science and math as well
as strong verbal skills. However, science and math literacy in the
overall high school population is declining. It cannot be assumed
that engineering schools' students will continue indefinitely to be
drawn from the highest ability group. Yet a great increase in
emphasis on science and math in engineering work can be expected by
the year 2000.
Recommendation
The engineering profession—in particular, the professional
societies—should actively support efforts by government at all
levels to enhance the delivery and effectiveness of precollege
education in science and mathematics.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
commercial infrastructure