8 April 2002
Copyright © 2002 World Expertise LLC – All rights
reserved
A periodic electronic newsletter for engineering education leaders,
edited by Russel C. Jones, PhD., P.E.
_____________________________________________________________________
Higher education in the Arab world is behind in information
technology, short on research, long on dogma, and too often educates graduates
for jobs that no longer exist. These criticisms were made recently at a rare
gathering of education and university officials from the Middle East and North
Africa, according to an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education by
David Wheeler. Professors in the Arab world were compared to clerics: education
is taught like religion, and students are supposed to believe as a matter of
faith. Much of the Arab world is in poor economic straights, with low incomes
and high rates of population growth and unemployment. A few oil rich states have
better economic conditions, but even there few women are enrolled in higher
education. The primary themes at the end of the conference were for more
technology, and for education aimed at overcoming high unemployment rates. See http://chronicle.com/weekly/v48/i30/30a03501.htm
Canadian education leaders are developing a plan to ease
transfer of credit between institutions, according to an article by Karen
Birchard in the Chronicle. The current ad hoc system of credit
recognition in Canada is seen as inconsistent and inadequate for future needs.
The new plan would be phased in over the next four years – if the
postsecondary institutions agree to it. In addition to allowing more ready
recognition of credit for Canadians, the plan would recognize the educational
achievements of the growing number of immigrants entering Canada to fuel
economic growth, as Canada’s population growth continues at a low rate. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/03/2002032104n.htm
Bowing to pressure from young researchers, politicians, and
the press, Germany’s science minister has agreed to amend the recently passed
university reform law to give young academics more time to finish their
educations. According to an article in the March 29th issue of Science
by Adam Bostanci and Gretchen Vogel, the change would remove what is seen as
a serious flaw in otherwise needed reforms, and may lead to a cease-fire in a
drawn-out battle over the legislation. Pressure for change in the law was
brought by those who feared that the new limit of 6 years for students to finish
a Ph.D. would not allow current student sufficient time to complete their
degrees. The law also provides a limit of 6 years after the Ph.D. for the
landing of a permanent academic position. The Education Minister has agreed to
an extension to February 2005 on both limits for doctoral students currently in
the pipeline. See http://www/sciencemag.org
The quality of instruction at Russian universities has
tumbled so low that the government plans to send teams of experts on surprise
campus visits in an effort to enforce minimum standards, according to an article
in the Chronicle by Bryon MacWilliams. The spot checks by teams of
“quality police” will focus on the most popular subjects – law, economics,
psychology, and foreign languages. Strong demand for degrees in these fields has
led to a proliferation of private institutions that have neither the resources
nor the experience to provide quality instruction, according to the Education
Minister. The visits will continue indefinitely, until state and public
universities establish an alternative system to regulate the quality of
instruction independently. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/04/2002040507n.htm
The economic crash in Argentina is making it hard for
scientists there to keep their labs afloat, according to an article in the March
29th issue of Science by Jocelyn Kaiser. Science budgets have
already suffered during the last 4 years of recession, but they went down even
further when Argentina partially defaulted on its debt and was forced to allow
the peso to trade freely on currency markets. The peso has lost 70% of its value
since then. One researcher reported that his salary was $3000 per month a year
ago, and now has shrunk to $645. Because of government-imposed limits on
withdrawing money from banks and on buying imports, labs have had to raid cash
and supply reserves to continue operations. In another sign of retrenchment, the
Secretary of Science and Technology cancelled a fellowship program for young
scientists. Few see a clear path to recovery – although some hope for a plan
like that Brazil developed – taxing companies to fund research as a way to
build its economy. See http://www.sciencemag.org
The King Faisal Foundation has announced plans to establish
the first private university on Saudi Arabia, according to an article in the Chronicle
by Daniel del Castillo. The new institution is being built in the Saudi
capitol, Riyadh, and is expected to open in the fall of 2003. The $100-million
campus is being built on the grounds of one of the palaces of the late King
Faisel, and will occupy 32 acres. It will specialize in information technology
and engineering, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical,
mechanical, and computer engineering as well as in computer science and business
technology. The primary language of instruction will be English, and tuition
will be $15,000 per year. Public universities in Saudi Arabia are free, and
offer $300 monthly stipends to students. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/04/2002040406n.htm
A company town in India is keeping software experts at
home, according to an article in the March 18 issue of the New York Times by
Saritha Rai. An Indian subsidiary of the U.S. firm Catalytic Software, in an
effort to keep Indian talent at home or attract it back, has developed a company
town which offers many of the comforts of the West. The town of New Oroville
provides a lifestyle that is in distinct contrast with the grim life in many of
India’s cities – with power failures, and horrendous traffic and pollution.
Developers of the comfortable environment say that it is cost effective, since
Indian programmers working in India can be hired for salaries that are perhaps
only 15% of what comparable work would pay in the U.S. See http://www.nytimes.com
A Canadian report ranks Quebec as the top Province in its
commitment to higher education, according to an article by Karen Birchard in the
Chronicle. Quebec nudged British Columbia into second place in an annual
survey. Newfoundland showed the biggest improvement by advancing three places,
mainly due to a rollback of university tuition fees and freeze on community
college tuitions. Once again, Ontario finished at the bottom. The rating system,
applied by an independent research group, is based on criteria that measure
equity, accessibility, quality, and public accountability. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/02/2002022705n.htm
South Korea is scrambling to fill its Ph.D. slots,
according to an article in the March 15th issue of Science by
Mark Russell. Korea’s postwar economic boom in the 1960’s and 1970’s
benefited from the belief that technical know-how was essential for a rising
standard of living. But faith in technology as an economic driver is being
undermined by such factors as loss of status, the country’s rising standard of
living, and financial restrictions imposed on the country by the International
Monetary Fund. Government officials are trying to counter these market forces
with a Brain Korea 21 program, which provides generous stipends for graduate
students in addition to supporting their research and providing a travel
allowance. See http://www.sciencemag.org
Russia has announced plans to overhaul its research
institutes and increase government support, according to an article in the Chronicle
by Bryon MacWilliams. The plan would reform the institutes by rewarding
research disciplines that adapt to the free market and contribute to the
country’s wealth, while cutting off support to those which do not. The plan
would quintuple funding for research in fields such as telecommunications and
electronics, aviation and space, new materials and chemistry, advanced
armaments, production technologies, energy conservation, and transportation.
Salaries would be raised for scientists under the age of 35, while pensions
would be sweetened in an effort to encourage senior scientists to retire to make
room for new blood. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/03/2002032507n.htm
The anti-immigrant backlash occurring in many countries is
described in a series of articles in the April 2002 World Press Review. Australia
has slammed its doors to the ‘less civilized’, the U.S. border with Mexico
has been strengthened, Britain plans to increase requirements for immigration,
and Germany is grappling with integration of immigrants. Some of the increased
barriers to immigration are the result of 9/11 concerns, while others are
economically motivated. See http://www.worldpress.org
Indian government researchers are cheering the
government’s new science budget, which includes a doubling of funding for
academic infrastructure, according to an article in the March 15th
issue of Science by Pallava Bagla. The overall increase of $300-million,
to $1.5-billion, brings the R&D budget close to 1% of the country’s gross
domestic product. The budget awards a 52% increase to the Department of Science
and Technology, which will allow doubling of a program to augment
instrumentation and facilities at universities, and will extend support to cover
university libraries including electronic databases. See http://www.sciencemag.org
Violence in Israel has prompted a range of reactions among
study-abroad programs, according to a note in the Chronicle by Beth
McMurtrie. Some universities – such as the University of California system –
have suspended study-abroad programs in Israel and have recalled students
currently there. Others are ‘strongly discouraging’ students from study
there until the situation is stable. Israel is just one of a number of countries
where American universities have decided it is no longer safe to send students;
Nepal, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe are others. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/04/2002040303n.htm
The College Board is considering major changes in the
Scholastic Aptitude Test, according to an article by Elizabeth Farrell in the Chronicle.
Responding to criticism that the SAT is not an accurate predictor of college
success, and moves by a major university system to eliminate it from admission
requirements, the College Board plans a wide-ranging change in the format and
content of the test. Changes may include adding a writing section and more
advanced math, eliminating the analogies section, and adding a section on
critical reading skills. The principal shift in the math section would be to add
advanced algebra and trigonometry questions. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/03/2002032501n.htm
The Educational Testing Service has announced that it will
eliminate 84 of its 195 overseas, computer based, testing centers. According to
a note in the Chronicle by Alex Kellogg, ETS feels that the centers are
not economically viable. The cuts could make it more difficult for students in
dozens of countries to take tests that are vital to studying in the U.S. To
minimize such problems, ETS will establish centers at area schools and colleges
where students can take handwritten exams. Fewer than 15% of international
test-takers will be affected by the change. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/04/2002040405n.htm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has pulled the
plug on a popular graduate fellowship program in the environmental sciences,
according to an article in the March 29th issue of Science by
Jeffrey Mervis. EPA officials say the move responds to a presidential proposal
to end the $10-million-a-year program this fall. The agency is assuming that
Congress will go along with the president’s 2003 budget request which zeros
out the Science to Achieve Results program. Environmental groups are beginning
to rally support for the program, as its demise will leave no dedicated funds
for graduate study in the environmental sciences. Critics say that terminating
the STAR program would undermine EPA’s efforts to improve the scientific basis
of its regulations. See http://www.sciencemag.org
Private giving to colleges surpassed expectations in
2000-1, but longer-range prospects are not bright, according to two articles by
John Pulley in the Chronicle. Giving in the academic year 2000-1 grew
4.3% over the previous 12 months, despite a declining stock market and an
economy in recession, totaling a record $24.2-billion. But the rate of growth
was less than the 14% in 1999-2000, which was the fifth year of double-digit
growth. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/03/2002032503n.htm.
Private foundations and institutions of higher education seem to be drifting
apart. Grant makers have a richer array of causes to choose from than
previously, and they do not view higher education as having the most pressing
problems at the moment. In addition, foundations are demanding more
accountability from grantees, and many are not convinced that there is tangible
proof of philanthropic impact in higher education programs. Financial support
for systemic issues in higher education such as governance and economics is
dwindling, and even in the realm of hot issues such as diversity and access
foundations are moving toward practical things such as scholarships rather than
supporting research on campus diversity. See http://chronicle.com/weekly/v48/i29/29a02801.htm
The National Technological University, a major provider of
engineering and technical degrees through distance education, will be acquired
by Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc.,
according to articles in the Chronicle by Michael Arnone. NTU will become
part of Sylvan’s Online Higher
Education division, fitting into the for-profit company’s strategy to offer
degrees to working professionals in specific professions. Last month Sylvan
bought a 51% interest in the for-profit Walden University, which provides online
graduate courses in business, psychology, and other subjects. Sylvan also owns
Canter and Associates through which K-12 teachers can get master’s degrees in
education. Absorbing some 2000 NTU students will increase Sylvan’s graduate
level enrollment to about 14,500. NTU awards 19 master’s degrees in
engineering, technical, and management subjects. To do so, it relies on 1400
courses from 52 member universities, whose professors create and teach the
courses. Most are delivered through a satellite-television network. Students mix
and match courses from different universities, with most receiving NTU degrees.
In the past 18 years, NTU has awarded more than 1700 master’s degrees.
Sylvan and NTU are in the process of talking with NTU’s member
universities about the acquisition. To date reactions have ranged from ‘No
problem’ to ‘Lets see what happens’. See http://chronicle.com/weekly/v48/i30/30a02901.htm
In a pair of articles in the Chronicle, Scott
Carlson explores two extremes in the use of technology in the classroom:
“Saint Joseph’s University stakes its future on a $30-million bet”, and
“Technology on a shoestring”. The very latest networked technologies, which
permit unprecedented interactivity among students and professors, are changing
the face of the lecture hall. Universities such as Saint Josephs see these wired
classrooms as the future of higher education, particularly for science and
business courses. At the other end of the scale, schools such as Salisbury
University – a public institution in Maryland – are sticking to simple
technological enhancements at the cost of a few thousand dollars per classroom.
This allows PowerPoint projection in the classroom, with slides posted on the
Internet after lectures. In the end, institutions that spend money to adopt
technology say they are doing it for one reason: to teach the new generation of
students who have grown up with television and computer games. See http://chronicle.com/free/v48/i29/29a03301.htm
and http://chronicle.com/free/v48/i29/29a03401.htm
An ambitious plan by the South Korean government to roll
out high-speed connections to millions of its citizens is being hailed as a
breakthrough in the country’s efforts to bring higher education to a majority
of its population by way of the Internet. According to an article by Davis Cohen
in the Chronicle, the goal is to be achieved through creating
near-universal access to broadband services at the same price for rural and
urban dwellers alike. The technology being used allows access up to 100 times
faster than conventional telephone modems. South Korea is already one of East
Asia’s leaders in broadband technology, with 7.4 million subscribers. See http://chronicle.com/free/2002/04/2002040401u.htm
The future of the microprocessor business is explored in a
major article by Michael Bass and Clayton Christensen in the April 2002 issue of
IEEE Spectrum. The authors predict that customization and speed-to-market
will drive the industry from the bottom up. Currently engineers can specify a
microprocessor and in some cases completely design it in weeks, rather than
months. The microprocessor market may become dominated by multitudes of targeted
chips, produced in relatively small numbers. In the same issue of IEEE
Spectrum, Ivan Berger has written a major article on ‘can you trust your
car’?. As cars become computers on wheels, they had better become more
reliable that our desktop models, according to the author. Building diagnostics
into components can enhance fault-finding right down to the service-station
level. See http://www.spectrum.ieee.org
‘Hybrid’ teaching is seeking to bridge the divide
between traditional and online instruction, according to an article in the
Chronicle by Jeffrey Young. By blending approaches, colleges hope
to save money while still meeting student’s needs. Faculty members are asking
why they have to meet students in a specified number of classes each week –
why not use other forms of learning activity that substitute for a class? A
growing number of colleges are experimenting with hybrid models of teaching that
replace some in-person meetings with virtual sessions. See http://chronicle.com/free/v48/i28/28a03301.htm
Case Western Reserve University has begun a $25-million
project to build a data, video and voice network that will be 10 times as fast
as most campus networks, according to an article by Florence Olsen in the Chronicle. The plan calls for
establishing gigabit-Ethernet-over-fiber connections in 87 buildings on the
campus, including some dormitories and Greek houses. Also included is campuswide
wireless-network coverage, including widespread use of desktop video. It is
estimated that more than a third of computers on the campus have processors fast
enough to keep pace with the speed of the new network. See http://chronicle.com/free/2002/03/2002032901t.htm
The past and future of university research reactors are
explored in an article by Kenneth Rogers in the March 22nd issue of Science.
Reactors have been present on university campuses since the early 1950’s,
with their number peaking at 58 in the early 1970’s. Since then, the number
has declined to 28 – programs having suffered unduly from the vicissitudes of
the nuclear power industry. The author explores the causes of this uncoordinated
decline, and suggests roles that University research reactors should play in the
future – both in supporting nuclear engineering and science programs, and for
advanced research in other fields such as medicine and materials science. See http://www.sciencemag.org
Pricing changes by two leading providers of course
management software, Blackboard and WebCT, are giving academic-technology
officials sticker shock. According to an article by Jeffrey Young in the Chronicle,
products that used to cost universities a few thousands of dollars are now
being priced at tens or even hundreds of thousands for the latest systems. While
in the past the companies offered licensing options that allowed flat rate
payments regardless of the number of students served, they are moving toward
selling campuswide access to software based on the number of students enrolled.
About one-fifth of all college courses now use such software. Some college
officials are so frustrated by the recent pricing changes that they are
considering other options, such as building their own systems or adopting a free
course-management system under development by several universities taking part
in the Open Knowledge Initiative. See http://chronicle.com/free/2002/03/2002031901u.htm
Microsoft is giving researchers and students access to code
for the company’s .NET programming platform for Web services, according to a
note in the Chronicle by Florence Olsen. The Corporation is attempting to
win the minds of academic researchers and college-aged programmers by offering
universities more than a million lines of source code – with no restrictions
except a prohibition on commercial use. This offer represents a significant
loosening of Microsoft’s restrictions, which have typically required pledges
of secrecy from programmers who sought access to the company’s code. Open
source code can be modified and used freely by others. See http://chronicle.com/free/2002/03/2002032801t.htm
“Are current engineering graduates being treated as
commodities by employers?” asks a viewpoint article in the April 2002 issue of
Engineering Times by Russel Jones (editor of this Digest) and Bethany
Oberst. The authors assert that the world of engineering employment has changed
over recent decades, and not for the better. Engineering graduates are likely to
experience 6 or 8 different jobs during their working years, with possible
periods of unemployment between them and often see lateral moves rather than the
upward advancement of past generations. This situation is exacerbated by the
declining economy, and by international competition. The authors recommend that
the engineering professional societies address this issue, perhaps with a
‘good practices seal of approval’ for companies that treat engineers fairly.
See http://www.nspe.org
Students at public colleges are bracing for large tuition
increases, according to an article by Richard Morgan in the Chronicle. Over
the past 5 years, tuition at public colleges has averaged an annual rate
increase of just over 4% -- but for 2002-3, many public colleges are projecting
percentage increases in the double digits. Projected increases in tuition are
often part of a poker game where public universities threaten increases to
pressure lawmakers into providing more state support. Some schools are planning
to use tiered tuition increases, with the highest increases applied only to new
students. Others are increasing student fees for services. See http://chronicle.com/free/v48/i28/28a02601.htm
The civil engineering profession has been debating whether
to require a master’s degree or equivalent for entry into professional
practice, according to a major report in
the April 2002 issue of Civil Engineering. Prepared by an ASCE Task
Committee on the Academic Prerequisites for Professional Practice, the report
states that civil engineers are not adequately prepared to compete for
leadership positions because their formal education gives short shrift to the
professional skills that a leader must possess. Nonengineers are increasingly
managing civil engineers, the principal reason being that the nonengineers are
more adept at leadership and communication and have better business sense. See http://www.pubs.asce.org
The University of Michigan has struck a deal with a
teaching-assistant union, settling on a three year contract to avert a
threatened strike. According to an article in the Chronicle by Scott
Smallwood, a previous contract had expired in February and the union had
threatened to strike indefinitely. The two sides had been furthest apart on
wages and child care, and each side gave a little to achieve an agreement –
which must still be ratified by the union membership. Similar graduate student
union issues are active on other campuses, such as Temple University, SUNY
Albany, and Columbia University. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2003/03/2002031903n.htm
Trends in professional engineer exams are reflecting
changes in the profession, according to an article by Rachel Davis in the April
2002 issue of Engineering Times. The proliferation of engineering in the
groundbreaking areas of nanotechnology, biomedicine, computer technology and
other fields is stretching the definitions of traditional engineering
disciplines. These developments are influencing the profession’s quest for a
better Model Law, and are reflected in trends in the type and format of
engineering licensing exams. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering
and Surveying recently converted its PE exams to a breadth-and-depth format,
which enables licensure candidates to concentrate on their specific areas of
expertise during the afternoon portion of the exam. NCEES has also broadened its
exams to cover computer and software engineering, and naval architecture
engineering. See http://www.nspe.org
The Gates Foundation has announced a plan to spend $40-million to create 70 high schools that will award both diplomas and associate degrees, according to an article in the Chronicle by Audrey Williams. The ‘early college’ high schools will be designed to keep students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, from dropping out of high school, or quitting college as freshmen. The funds will be divided among eight organizations that will then work with universities and community colleges to create small high schools. At these small schools, students will receive personalized and accelerated learning that they need to ensure a smoother transition to college or the workplace. Graduates of the schools would have enough college credits to enter college with sophomore or junior status. See http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/03/2002031901n.htm
A 1999 report that documented the plight of female
researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sparked a heated
national debate about the need to improve the status of women scientists in
academia. Now a new study of MIT’s school of engineering cites a host of
similar barriers, according to an article by Andrew Lawler in the March 22nd
issue of Science. The dean of MIT’s largest school has concluded that
the engineering school there is not a hospitable environment for many women.
Female professors comprise only 10% of the 357 faculty members, and those hired
are subject to a constant pattern of marginalization, according to a 30 page
study commissioned by the dean. The study did not find significant inequities in
salary and space based on gender, but identified more subtle biases which may be
harder to redress – including a dearth of women faculty members on Ph.D.
committees and in senior administrative posts. The report recommends doubling
the percentage of women engineers in a decade, hiring consultants for job
searches, and holding workshops to increase gender awareness. See http://www.sciencemag.org
Historically black colleges are grappling with online
education, where they lag in national trends, according to an article in the Chronicle
by Michael Arnone. In the past such colleges focused on basics such as
reading and writing, and could not think about technology in the classroom. But
times have changed, and providing distance education is imperative if black
institutions are to remain competitive as more institutions of all types put
courses and degrees online. The 105 historically black institutions and roughly
30 more predominantly black institutions confront the same challenges as other
institutions as they work to train professors, improve infrastructure, and find
scarce money and time to develop online content. But the job is even harder than
in mostly white institutions because black colleges have smaller endowments and
charge their students less. An October 2000 study indicated that 58% of black
institutions participated in some form of distance education, but that 85% of
them were not offering degrees online. See http://chronicle.com/free/v48/i30/30a02701.htm
For the first time since it abolished affirmative action,
the University of California system has admitted more minority students than it
did during the last days of its race-based admission policies, according to a
note in the April 6th issue of the Washington Post. Of the
48,369 students admitted in this year’s freshman class, 19.1% were from
Hispanic, black or American Indian backgrounds – up from 18.8% in 1997.
Critics of affirmative action embraced the figures as proof that race has no
place in the admissions process. Others said that historical disadvantages that
minorities experience need to be weighted. Despite the gains for the system as a
whole, the number of minority students admitted to UC’s most competitive
campuses has not rebounded to the same extent. See http://www.washingtonpost.com
A new book reviewed in the April 2002 issue of IEEE’s The
Institute by Helen Horowitz offers strategies for women Ph.D. students.
“The Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Ph.D. in Engineering and Science” has
been written by two faculty members at Carnegie Mellon University, Barbara
Lazarus and Susan Ambrose, with assistance by communications consultant Lisa
Ritter. It is a resource for female students seeking strategies to deal with key
graduate school issues and potential barriers specifically affecting women.
Topics range from funding sources, the advising process and dissertations, to
conducting effective job searches and striking a balance between professional
and personal needs. The book has been published by Wiley/IEEE press, and can be
ordered online at http://www.wiley.com/electricalengineering
The online journal TechKnowLogia has released its April-June 2002 issue, which is posted at http://www.TechKnowLogia.org . Focus of this issue is on virtual education, online learning, and related topics.
The April 2002 issue of the Journal of Professional
Issues in Engineering Education and Practice has arrived, with eight papers
on a variety of professional topics. Of particular interest may be “Motivating
Students by Building Self-Efficacy” by Michael Ponton, and “Capstone Course
in an Integrated Engineering Curriculum” by S. Rod Jenkins et al.
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