US and UK leaders of Engineering Education

“Science is about knowing; Engineering is about doing.” – Henry Petroski

In the 21^st century, innovation is a concept central to any nation’s growth. Through the combination of scientific principles and perfectly executed research, the facets of higher education dedicated to the field of engineering present us with new, visionary processes that create brand-new ways for us to consume knowledge.

Rising global demand for qualified engineers is an incredibly desirable factor for potential students worldwide, with their ability to face challenges head-on promising respect and stability they’d be hard-pushed to find in any other sector.

There are many other elements that continually inspire students to study engineering; one being boosted rates in terms of graduate employability. Qualified engineers are in high-demand across the world, and can also be rewarded with some of the highest paid professional roles society has known.

And to find the best solutions to the world’s most complex issues, all those who pursue the engineering discipline must continue to question the existing status quo, breaking through the borders of current expertise and understanding.

“Trains were one of the greatest innovations to transform our world,” James Dyson writes for Global Times. “Cheap, fast and easy transport led to the opening up of new transport routes and the flourishing of new cities and growth opportunities.

“Engineering leaps like these are not overnight achievements but the result of painstaking months and years spent prototyping and testing designs, looking for even the slightest marginal gain.

“It’s about finding modern solutions to modern challenges,” the industry expert adds. “…Education is where it all begins, as it is bright young people who will invent and address the challenges we face.”

Universities are the institutions that lead the charge in this movement. While knowledge and research from these disciplines are steeped throughout our global society, it will be the engineers fresh from higher education who will stand at the forefront of the industry’s future development.

Here are six leaders of engineering education from the US and UK…

TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (NYU) – USA

With an ethos firmly rooted in technology creation and entrepreneurship, the Tandon School of Engineering has been described as the birthplace of the American Dream. Whether it’s slowing climate change, breaking new ground in medical treatment, harnessing the power of Big Data, or securing cyberspace, Tandon’s highly skilled graduates are helping build a safer, healthier, better connected, and more sustainable world for future generations.

Committed to multidisciplinary collaboration, global outreach, and diversity, Tandon provides its graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to obtain rewarding, long-term careers.

The school’s many areas of expertise include:

• Electrical and Computer Engineering – Join a renowned department that is conducting world-changing research in 5G communications, microchip security, smart-grid technology, and more.
• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering – Tandon researchers are working at the forefront of nanomaterials, mechatronics, mixed reality, and other fields revolutionizing the way we live, work, and learn.
• Technology Management and Innovation – Tandon knows how technology and innovation link to deliver value to the marketplace, and its TMI graduates go on to share that insight at organizations and businesses around the world.

At Tandon, they create the technology needed to solve pressing real-world issues. They believe in addressing tomorrow’s problems today and understand that the future rests in the hands of innovative, entrepreneurial thinkers with the practical knowledge to turn their ideas into reality.

SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND ANALYTICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER – UK

The University of Manchester is part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, with outstanding facilities and a wide range of courses.

Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester boasts a rich history as the birthplace of chemical engineering, dating back to the first lectures given by George Davis in 1887. From this strong lineage the school remains at the forefront of the field, educating future leading chemical engineers.

This is reflected in their impressive level of employability, particularly for its four-year MEng with Industrial Experience course, which sees 95 percent of students obtain a professional or managerial job within six months of graduation.

“The proactive learning style I developed whilst studying at the University of Manchester has benefited me when pursuing opportunities in my career,” says chemical engineering graduate Kirsty Donovan. “There is also an international recognition of the standard of Manchester Chemical Engineering Graduates that has given me a good base to build on.”

WHITING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY – USA

The Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) draws upon the principles of multiple STEM disciplines, empowering students with the expansive knowledge needed to tackle the most pressing real-world problems.
With 19 full-time programmes delivered through nine equipped departments, WSE graduates are considered among the world’s most highly-qualified and intellectually-driven engineers.

From computer vision to the stability and security of digitally-transferred information, these students stand at the front of technology’s constant evolution. Here, students are guided and inspired by world-leading faculty, collaborating across a range of subject borders and through independently-led research.

“There is no doubt we live in a time of great change. Around the globe, we are seeing major disruptions in politics, economies, industries, and educational institutions. The way people are living, interacting, working, and learning is shifting radically, and this change is certain to continue,” says Ed Schlesinger, Dean of the School.

“With counsel from our faculty, leadership team, advisory board members, and our trusted alumni, I look forward to Hopkins Engineering leading the change, defining the landscape, and ultimately making our community and the world a better place,” the Dean concludes.

DIVISION OF ENGINEERING, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON (KCL) – UK

King’s College London – one of the most cutting-edge and globally-connected universities in the UK capital – is an institute that’s considered to produce some of the world’s top graduates for hire, also trailblazing the field in terms of UK education.

The Division of Engineering formally closed on 31st July 2013, but research and teaching in engineering and related areas continues as part of other units at King’s. Continuing MSc and research programmes have now been transferred to the Department of Informatics and the Department of Physics, in the Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, part of the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine.

Soon after the founding of King’s College London in 1829, a Department of Engineering was established at King’s in 1838, making it arguably the oldest of its kind in England. With so many years of experience in the discipline on top of an elite reputation for both teaching and research, KCL Engineering students are given the advantage of industry links and placements that truly are unparalleled.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE – USA

Nestled in the picturesque New Hampshire town of Hanover, the Dartmouth School of Engineering stands as one of the oldest and most respected professional engineering institutes in the United States.

Acknowledging that the world is forever in need of experienced technical talent to innovate the energy, healthcare, security, sustainable manufacturing and environmental sectors, this school offers programmes focused on the systems that serve the boundaries of these crucial industries.

Dartmouth School of Engineering nurtures creative learning approach, also homing in on invaluable professional concepts to ensure students get the best possible start to competitive working life. On top of this, Dartmouth adopts a resounding culture of collaboration, broadening horizons long before completion of the course.

“The Dartmouth difference is one community, no departments,” the faculty explains. “Expertise from across the engineering disciplines converge to enhance innovation. People here share ideas, challenges, and inspiration and push each other to solve pressing global problems.”

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE – UK

Students interested in becoming a Chartered Engineer will be keen to study here. Its Faculty of Engineering, which is one of the largest and best-equipped schools, offers undergraduate programmes that are fully-accredited by the relevant professional engineering institutions.

Students also have access to top-notch facilities such as the Advanced Forming Research Centre, the Technology and Innovation Centre, Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation and Power Networks Demonstration Centre. Understanding that tuition fees can be pricey, the Faculty of Engineering offers over 300 industry-sponsored scholarships, making it one of the largest portfolios in the UK.

Strathclyde’s Faculty of Engineering is a respected figure in the UK higher education landscape, with seven of its eight engineering departments being ranked in the top 10 in the UK in terms of research power. Also hosting one of the most extensive industry scholarship catalogues in the region, there’s boundless opportunities for students to excel at Strathclyde Engineering.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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