Improving Engineering Education System 8 TH ASEE GLOBAL COLLOQUIUM ON ENGINEERING EDUCATION Budapest, 2009 Prof. Imre CZINEGE Széchenyi István University – Hungary

Improving Engineering Education System Page 2 Main topics 1.Historical background –West Europe –> CEE countries –> European HE space 2.Motivation and enrollment to engineering studies –Prestige of engineering profession in Hungary –Pre-studies in secondary schools 3.Action plan for the future –Reforms in engineering education 4.Co-operation with industry –New forms of education –Involving students in research and development projects

Improving Engineering Education System Page 3 West European HE Central-East European HE Harmonized European Higher Education 1. Historical background

Improving Engineering Education System Page 4 Events in West European HE 1960’s years: Student movements, strong demand for reforms 1970’s years: Rapid expansion of HE, increasing enrollment mainly in „cheep” programs like humanities, social sciences –Consequence: relative weight of engineering studies decreased : Mass education, overloaded universities, permanent lock of capacities –Consequence: quality of education could not be maintained Reaction: quality assurance systems, new teaching methods, globalization of HE –Result: both positive and negative elements

Improving Engineering Education System Page 5 Historical background of CEE countries –Rigid political system, centralized control of society After 1990 –Political changes –Deep economical crisis Around 2000 –Rapid development of economy –Significant investments, modernization of industry Recent years –Global financial-economical crisis –Reduction of public expenditure

Improving Engineering Education System Page 6 Changes in university education in CEE countries –State-controlled education, low enrollment rate (12% in Hungary) After 1990 –Rapid expansion of enrollment (from 12% to 40% of 18 years age group in Hungary) –Widening university profiles Around 2000 –Top of demographic wave –Significant investments, new capacities, widening profiles Recent years –Decreasing number of candidates to HE –Quality of candidates??? –Financial problems of institutes

Improving Engineering Education System Page 7 Reform in HE: Bologna process Objective: harmonize the European HE General evaluation –It was rather a political decision than bottom-to top initiative –Formal elements were dominant (forced introduction of Bachelor-Master system) –Universities and professors were not involved Positive effects –All programs were renewed –New curricula and teaching materials have been introduced Negative effects –Time was too short for transition period –Labor market has no information about new engineering qualifications

Improving Engineering Education System Page 8 2. Motivation and enrollment to engineering studies Why to be an engineer? Prestige of engineering profession in Hungary Motivation factors Hindering factors

Improving Engineering Education System Page 9 Opinion of students about professions Results of a recent pool: How they estimate the income of different professions? How they feel the social prestige of professions Conclusion: –Traditions are very strong –Engineering career perspective is good, but social prestige is lower

Improving Engineering Education System Page 10 Motivation of candidates to be an engineer Industrial growth was significant in the last decade (about 20%/year) Popular branches are automobile, computer and telecommunication industry Demand for graduated engineers permanently exceeds the output Perspectives for excellent engineers: career, income, good positions and working conditions, … Relative good social prestige Interesting and challenging tasks Life long learning

Improving Engineering Education System Page 11 Hindering factors to be an engineer Studies in secondary school: –Mathematics, physics is regarded as difficult subjects –Less and less teaching hours for natural sciences –Reduced maturity requirements (only mathematics has remained) Missing motivation from every day's life –Less possibilities for practical work (repair bicycle, play with creative toys, help in the household works, …) –Ready-made toys, television, computer games, … Negative information about engineering courses –Engineering studies are difficult –Drop-out rate is high –Because of mass-education less practice, only oral presentations

Improving Engineering Education System Page Action plan for the future Main objectives of reform: Engineers should be highly trained professionals who are possessing general and specific knowledge and are able to apply these skills they have high level language skills and ability and demand for life-long learning. Engineering training should be well defined and planned it has harmonized levels of training (undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, PhD programs)

Improving Engineering Education System Page 13 How to reach the objectives? General requirements at each level Quality Assurance System at national and at institutional level Well qualified teachers and professors Organized training and career development of staff Appropriate managers for institutes Long-term and stable financing Autonomy and accountability of institutes

Improving Engineering Education System Page 14 Requirements of pre-studies Secondary education high level literacy, natural sciences, social and cultural studies language skills (at least two foreign languages) methodological preparation for independent learning and further education motivation for higher education studies in engineering –mathematical skills –strong foundation in natural sciences (physics, chemistry) –laboratory and other practical works

Improving Engineering Education System Page Co-operation with industry Case study: Partners: Audi Hungaria Motor Company – Széchenyi István University Principles of co-operation –Framework contract for regulation of research activity –Participation of Audi in university education –Common teaching unit: „Audi Hungaria Department of Combustion Engines” Experiences –extended participation of the universities in the research activity of company, and –participation of the company in the undergraduate, graduate and PhD training results in a mutually beneficial co-operation

Improving Engineering Education System Page 16 Actions in co-operation Framework contract for regulation of research activity –Launching of new project is easy –Everyday research contacts between university and company –Extension of research activity within company and partner universities (Audi Ingolstadt – Uni Karlsruhe – Audi Győr – Uni Győr) Participation of Audi in university education –Courses delivered by the company –Practical semester for students –Thesis work at the company –Participation in the PhD training with research topics

Improving Engineering Education System Page 17 Conclusions Harmonization of programs, content and structure of European HE is being progress Within HE the engineering programs offer good career perspectives but they have less social prestige To gain new markets for engineering education we need –Stronger motivation for engineering studies –Good preparation in secondary schools Industry-University co-operation should be strengthened THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION