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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1999. Engineering Tasks for the New Century: Japanese and U.S. Perspectives. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9624.
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Engineering Education Tasks for the New Century:

Japanese and U.S. Perspectives

Report of a Joint Task Force of the National Research Council and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Committee on Japan

Office of Japan Affairs

Office of International Affairs

National Research Council

Washington, D.C.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1999. Engineering Tasks for the New Century: Japanese and U.S. Perspectives. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9624.
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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC's Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report: J. Myron Atkin, Stanford University; Kent F. Hansen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Frank Huband, American Society for Engineering Education; Takeo Kanade, Carnegie Mellon University; Milton Levenson, Bechtel International; Roland W. Schmitt, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (review coordinator); William Spooner, Creative Business Solutions Group; Michiyuki Ueonohara, NEC Corp.

While the individuals listed above have provided constructive comments and suggestions, responsibility for the final content of this report rests solely with the authoring committee and the institution. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations that provided support for the project. This project was made possible with funding support from the United States-Japan Foundation and the National Academy of Engineering.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievement of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

International Standard Book Number 0-309-6588-7

Additional copies of this report are available from
National Academy Press,
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, D.C. 20055; 800-624-6242 or 202-334-3313 (in the Washington area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu.

Copyright © 1999 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1999. Engineering Tasks for the New Century: Japanese and U.S. Perspectives. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9624.
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U.S.-Japan Joint Task Force on Engineering Education

Mildred S. Dresselhaus (co-chair)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eleanor Baum

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

George Bugliarello

Polytechnic University

Samuel C. Florman

Kreisler Borg Florman

Jeffrey Frey

University of Maryland

B. John Garrick

PLG, Inc. (retired)

Mark B. Myers

Xerox Corp.

Harold W. Stevenson

University of Michigan

Ex-officio

Gerald P. Dinneen

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (retired)

Sogo Okamura (co-chair)

Tokyo Denki University

Kaneichiro Imai

Engineering Academy of Japan

Fumio Kodama

University of Tokyo

Yasukuni Kotaka

NEC Corporation

Shogo Nakamura

Tokyo Denki University

Minoru Nakayama

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Fujio Niwa

National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

Kenji Ogata

Ando Electric Co. (retired) Hisao Oka Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Jiro Ohta

Edogawa University

Takashi Sakamoto

National Institute of Multimedia Education

Yasutaka Shimizu

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Yasuhara Suematu

Kohchi Institute of Technology

Seiichi Takeuchi

Tokyo Denki University

Ikuo Yamada

Mitsubishi Research Institute

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1999. Engineering Tasks for the New Century: Japanese and U.S. Perspectives. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9624.
×

COMMITTEE ON JAPAN

Erich Bloch, Chairman

Council on Competitiveness

Richard J. Samuels, Vice-Chairman

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sherwood L. Boehlert

U.S. House of Representatives

Lewis M. Branscomb

Harvard University

G. Steven Burrill

Burrill & Company

Lawrence W. Clarkson

The Boeing Co.

Mildred S. Dresselhaus

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

David A. Duke

Corning, Inc. (retired)

Daniel J. Fink

D. J. Fink Associates, Inc.

John O. Haley

University of Washington

Jim F. Martin

Rockwell Science Center

Joseph A. Massey

Dartmouth College

Mike M. Mochizuki

The Brookings Institution

Hugh T. Patrick

Columbia University

John D. Rockefeller IV

United States Senate

Robert A. Scalapino

University of California, Berkeley

Susan C. Schwab

University of Maryland

Ex Officio Members:

Harold K. Forsen, Foreign Secretary,

National Academy of Engineering

F. Sherwood Rowland, Foreign Secretary,

National Academy of Sciences

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1999. Engineering Tasks for the New Century: Japanese and U.S. Perspectives. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9624.
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OFFICE OF JAPAN AFFAIRS

Since 1985 the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering have engaged in a series of high-level discussions on advanced technology and the international environment with a counterpart group of Japanese scientists, engineers, and industrialists. One outcome of these discussions was a deepened understanding of the importance of promoting a more balanced two-way flow of people and information between the research and development systems in the two countries. Another result was a broader recognition of the need to address the science and technology policy issues increasingly central to a changing U.S.-Japan relationship. In 1987 the National Research Council, the operating arm of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, authorized first-year funding for a new Office of Japan Affairs (OJA). This program element of the Office of International Affairs was formally established in 1988.

The primary objectives of OJA are to provide a resource to the Academy complex and the broader U.S. science and engineering communities for information on Japanese science and technology, to promote better working relationships between the technical communities in the two countries by developing a process of deepened dialogue on issues of mutual concern, and to address policy issues surrounding a changing U.S.-Japan science and technology relationship.

Staff

Thomas Arrison, Senior Program Officer

Maki Fife, Program Officer

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1999. Engineering Tasks for the New Century: Japanese and U.S. Perspectives. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9624.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1999. Engineering Tasks for the New Century: Japanese and U.S. Perspectives. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9624.
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The U.S.-Japan bilateral task force was tasked with addressing the following questions: (1) How do Japan and the United States educate and train engineers, and what are the major similarities, differences, and trends? (2) What are the superior practices that have been developed by each country, especially approaches that could be adopted by the other country? (3) Are there areas in which expanded U.S.-Japan cooperation could help to improve engineering education in the two countries and around the world?

The joint task force was organized by the Committee on Advanced Technology and the International Environment (Committee 149) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and the Committee on Japan (COJ) of the National Research Council (NRC). Committee 149's work was supported by member dues, and the COJ's work was supported by the United States-Japan Foundation and the National Academy of Engineering. The joint task force was chaired by Mildred Dresselhaus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Sogo Okamura of Tokyo Denki University.

Japan and the United States are two of the leading nations in the world in engineering education and practice. Their systems for training and educating engineers display marked contrasts, resulting from the very different economic and cultural environments in which they have developed. The joint task force used a "lifelong learning" approach in examining the two countries' systems, exploring differences and similarities in K-12 education of future engineers, undergraduate and graduate education, as well as continuing education of working professionals. The panel also explored two important issues that will affect engineering education in both countries in the future: the need to educate and train "global engineers" who can work effectively in international contexts, and the potential for information technology to transform engineering education in the future.

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