Future engineering leaders

A good future-state mapping team is comprised of people who will actually perform the work later, a good facilitator or team leader, the person who is in charge of the process (process owner), and any others as needed, such as scientists, engineers, subject-matter experts, suppliers, regulators, or customers. 

Sustainable economies. Economic decisions must be driven not only by short- but also by long-term perspectives in all areas of professional activity, especially engineering as applied to product development and in the innovation process. In an increasingly commercial, market-driven world, this is a challenge. Mechanical Engineers must occupy prominent, influential roles toward a more sustainability-driven economic future. Sustainable, not unlimited, growth is central to future solutions. Engineering educators, industrial leaders and public leaders must work in concert to address this issue. 

As educators, we have an obligation to help students develop coimnunication and critical thinking skills that will better prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow. Each engineering program should evaluate its curriculum to search for possible areas to implement various active learning methods and prepare for the future challenges in engineering education. 

Sao Paulo University has taken these recommendations to heart and is poised to become a leader in the transformation of engineering education to a more holistic model. And because the influence of Brazil is so great, there is no doubt that many other Latin American universities - the public Buenos Aires University of Argentina, the private Los Andes University of Colombia, and the private Catholic University of Chile - will likely follow Sao Paulo s more holistic engineering education investment for the future. 

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