Top engineering schools: A primer

Engineering education has evolved over the years as the engineer’s role adapted to the needs of developing communities. Engineers now need both technical expertise and “soft skills” to work abroad. Undergraduate, minor and master’s degree programs on engineering for sustainable development have been integrated into major engineering schools around the world, driven mostly by university professors advocating the shift from grand to small-scale yet life-changing projects. “In the last 20 years, there’s been an explosion for the need of technology-oriented professionals that are able to understand the cultural context and impact of what they do and … to work in a diverse environment,” said Thomas Colledge, director of the Pennsylvania State University’s humanitarian engineering program. The program, which Colledge pioneered, anchors engineering education in sustainable community service. “What we do here in university is planting a seed - some communication and leadership skills - so that you develop as a professional, expert engineer,” he said. “It is how you make them the best engineer possible.” A different engineering focus Extending learning beyond the classroom, these engineering programs emphasize the design of technologies that are practical, sustainable and take into account socio-economic conditions and cultural nuances of particular communities. They encourage collaboration with professionals outside the engineering field to accomplish development projects. Joshua Sperling is learning this firsthand as fellow at the University of Colorado Denver’s Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Program. The postgraduate program is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship. “I’m really interested in global challenges,” Sperling said. “And I think what’s really interesting about my program is that it’s project-based learning, working with communities and learning in the process.” While earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Sperling participated in the Engineering for Developing Communities program, an “active learning” course where students plan and implement their own engineering projects for underprivileged villages overseas. EDC, which partners with international nonprofit Engineers Without Borders, has carried out projects such as installing a clean water system in Llacamate, Peru, and developing a solar lighting system in Muramba, Rwanda. “It’s an opportunity to apply what you learn in the classroom in a real-world environment while improving the lives of community members,” Sperling said. “It’s about gaining real-world experience.” He continued: “But also, these students are out there empowering communities, showing them they have the capacity to really make a difference for their children, for the future generations, and improving their way of life.” The following development engineering programs are offered in universities rated among the world’s best in 2009 by QS, a global career and education network: Engineering for Developing CommunitiesMortenson Center, University of Colorado at Boulder - Location: Boulder, Colorado - Degrees awarded: Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree - Faculty size: 3,293 - Student body: 32,469 - Average tuition: $7,932 for domestic students; $28,186 for international students Established in 2004, the Mortenson Center’s program gives students a holistic experience through “education, research & development, and outreach/service related to sustainable community development.” EDC is offered as a special program for graduate and undergraduate engineering students who wish to apply university training to solve real-world challenges. Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities of Service LearningUniversity of Dayton - Location: Dayton, Ohio - Degrees awarded: Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate - Faculty size: 462 - Student body: 10,920 - Average tuition: $28,690 The ETHOS program started as a student initiative in 2001. It gives students an opportunity to apply their training in solving engineering challenges in developing communities through sustainable and culturally appropriate technologies. Student summer projects have involved the development of a water system in Kumba, Cameroon, and solar-powered stoves in Nicaragua and Bolivia. Humanitarian EngineeringColorado School of Mines - Location: Golden, Colorado - Degrees awarded: Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate - Faculty size: 250 - Student body: 4,488 - Average tuition: $12,244 Offered as a minor to engineering students, this program provides a well-rounded education through augmenting technical instruction with humanities, social science and experiential learning. The course list includes classes on culture and international development. Since it began in 2003, the program has sent student teams to engineering missions in villages around Latin America and Africa. Humanitarian Engineering and Social EntrepreneurshipPennsylvania State University - Location: University Park, Pennsylvania - Degrees awarded: Certificate, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate - Faculty size: 2,745 - Student body: 89,255 (2009) - Average tuition: $29,900 Initiated as a volunteer program in 1998, HESE is currently offered as a minor and certificate course under Penn State’s School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs. With a focus on service engineering, the program allows students to plan and implement projects in Latin America and African villages through partnerships with local non-governmental organizations and universities. International Development EngineeringTokyo Institute of Technology - Location: Tokyo, Japan - Degrees awarded: Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree - Faculty size: 1,525 - Student body: 10,090 - Average tuition: $5,953 The Tokyo Institute of Technology’s IDE department offers engineering instruction aimed at solving challenges in developing nations, with an emphasis on transferring First World knowledge. The undergraduate program was launched in 1995, the graduate program followed four years later. The university partners with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to facilitate student exchanges with Southeast Asian nations. MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable DevelopmentCambridge University - Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom - Degrees awarded: Certificates, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate - Faculty size: 4,090 - Student body: 25,465 - Average tuition: $7,218 for domestic students; $19,670 for international students This year-long program aims to turn engineers into leaders in sustainable engineering by combining business and technical skills. Established by Cambridge-MIT Institute in 2002, it boasts practical instruction based on case studies and field experiences of top engineers. Read more engineering stories: - Engineering Jobs in International Development: What You Need You Know - Engineering CVs: Keep it Recent and Relevant - The Ideal Development Engineer: A Character Sketch - International Engineering Jobs: Opportunities and Challenges - Salaries for Development Engineers: A Primer - Development Engineering: Volunteer Toward Employment - Engineers Without Borders: From US to India and Beyond - Top International Development Engineering Firms: A Primer - For Engineers, Working Across Cultures is Key Read more career advice articles.