The expanding world of engineers

In contemporary world, the world is developing at an amazing pace, which is loaded with much information and communication. Engineer, as a kind of profession that has a long history, is now playing a more important role in both traditional and new fields. As Prof Ramakrishna says, “an engineer’s training helps to systematically analyze complex information and apply a holistic approach in designing solutions”. Engineers have the ability to accomplish this because of two reasons, namely, knowledge-intensive quality and its flexibility.

Firstly, with the trend of globalization, many professions have become more and more knowledge and technology intensive. They require people to handle a large amount of information more efficiently. This phenomenon does not only appear in manufacturing, but also in service fields. Engineers just have this kind of quality to meet the demand. Engineers have no fear in technology when they face it. Instead, they can analyze the information in a systematic manner and figure out some applicable solutions no matter how complicated the situation is. Engineers have this quality because they are well trained and prepared in university education. The curriculum designed and the approach used for engineering education is aimed to train their minds to be systematic when facing complicated sets of information. With this special and important quality, engineers are exceptionally good at coping with knowledge-intensive situations.

Secondly, engineers are flexible. In today’s world, engineers do not only work at traditional fields such as manufacturing, but also make much contribution to many new fields such as service. Engineers can survive in many fields because they are flexible and their education is diversified. They are not only trained in engineering related knowledge, but also many other subjects. For example, finance, accounting and logistics. Compared with other people, engineers have the specific knowledge required in these fields. What is more, they have the ability to analyze complicated things systematically, which others may not have. This makes engineers very popular not only in traditional fields but many other areas. This is the great success of “liberal arts education”.

In this fast changing world, engineers are expected to continue their important roles in a large variety of professions and contribute more to the whole society in every aspect.