Education

Engineering is a demanding field. The rigorous academic curriculum is often the first hurdle. It involves challenging STEM concepts and advanced mathematics. The level of difficulty can vary across different branches of engineering.  Engineers need to solve complex and often open-ended problems. This demands systematic and iterative processes, including problem identification, plan development, prototype creation and testing, feedback gathering, and design improvement.
Engineering students are expected to tackle a range of global problems, from climate change to industrial complex evolutions, each with an engineering dimension. They also need to master an ever-growing array of technological tools.
Despite these challenges, engineering remains a highly rewarding career path. As engineers, you're not just solving problems; you're shaping the future.

Engineering education plays a critical role in shaping future engineers by imparting knowledge and principles essential for professional practice. This includes not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills for problem-solving and innovation. Engineering Education combines abstract (concepts and theories) and experiential (hands-on practice) learning, teamwork and collaboration.

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, engineering education is crucial in addressing societal needs and contributing to economic development. It prepares engineers to tackle real-world problems, from climate change to industrial complex evolutions, using an array of technological tools. It also needs to keep pace with rapid technological changes and equip students with the skills needed for the jobs of the future.

In summary, Engineering education serves as a bridge between academic knowledge and real-world engineering practices, shaping the engineers of tomorrow who will drive innovation and societal progress.

The journey to becoming an engineer typically requires a significant investment of time. The standard path involves obtaining a Bachelor's degree in engineering, which generally takes four to five years of full-time study. This includes classroom instruction, lab work, and often internships or co-op positions to gain real-world experience.

However, the duration can vary significantly depending on factors such as:

• The engineering discipline chosen
• The level of degree pursued (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate)
• The pace of study (full-time, part-time)
• The country and institution of study

It's also worth noting that aside from academic education, ongoing learning is crucial in the engineering field due to rapid technological advancements. Lifelong learning, professional development courses, and continuous upskilling play a key role in an engineer's career.

An engineering degree program is usually between 4 to 8 years of study and practice, depending on the countries. In the US a common degree program is around 4 years to obtain a bechelor's degree in engineering, in Europe, it goes from 3 to 5 and even 8 years for research purposes. 

Engineering education is a transformative journey, shaping learners into professional engineers.
It opens up a variety of career paths. Some of the most common roles include:

• Civil Engineering Technician: They assist civil engineers in planning, designing, and building infrastructure projects for various sectors.

• Mechanical Engineer: They work on a variety of mechanical and thermal products and systems, such as HVAC technology, generators, cars, or even robots.

• Electrical Engineer: Their main duties involve designing, developing, and testing various forms of electrical equipment.

• Aerospace Engineer: These professionals design, test, and operate aerospace systems.

There are planty of opportunities and the type of engineering degree a person has can determine the roles they can pursue within the field. It's also worth noting that the salary expectations and job outlook for engineers depend on their specialty, education, and location.

At Dassault Systèmes, we promote Edu Centers of Excellence to connect the Education and the Professional worlds. Edu Centers of Excellence are physical facilities run by selected Dassault Systèmes partners, where industry-relevant 3DEXPERIENCE knowledge and know-how are combined with their own expertise to provide learners with initial or continuing education programs. They also welcome students in their degree program and educators who want to discover the skills needed by the industry in an immersive way.

Engineering education research (EER) is an interdisciplinary field that applies research methods from education and social science to address issues relevant to engineering education. It focuses on the systematic study of education systems, with the aim of creating knowledge that informs and improves the education of engineers. EER leverages the expertise of engineering faculty who conduct research on engineering education, mentor engineering graduate students, and are embedded in traditional engineering departments. 

This field of research has recently emerged globally and is continually evolving, with a growing focus on the conceptual difficulties faced by engineers learning about educational research.