Books/Book chapters

Reinventing a Level 7 Programme in Electrical Engineering and Greatly Improving on Student Retention

Eugene Coyle et al. — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:09:09 PDT

Following the successful implementation over a number of decades of a three-year Diploma in Electrical and Control Engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology, the programme entered a period of extreme difficulty and uncertainty in the late nineteen ninetees and early years of the new millennium. As with many such engineering programmes, student numbers seeking to enter began to diminish. Furthermore, engagement and retention of students who had enrolled on the programme became evermore challenging, necessitating some radical moves in the formation and operation of the programme and in putting additional student support mechanisms in place. The situation hit rock bottom between the 2000 and 2002 academic years when the programme appeared to be in terminal decline. Following a major effort by the programme committee in redefining the programme, and upon receiving a annual recurrent retention grant from the Higher Education Authority of Ireland, the declining situation was reversed and the new programme is now on a healthy footing. This paper will outline the steps taken in in achieving this goal. Whilst the situation has been reversed, there is little room for complacency and the difficult questions facing educators today continue to challenge.

The Challenges in Engineering and Society

Steen Hyldgaard Christensen et al. — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:10:00 PDT

Liberal Studies in Engineering and Technology

William Grimson et al. — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:10:00 PDT

An Evolutionary Perspective on Engineering Design

William Grimson et al. — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:09:59 PDT

Engineering Science as Opposed to Natural Science

Eugene Coyle et al. — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:09:59 PDT

In exploring the epistemology of engineering science, we propose a model of engineering. This model incorporates the goals of engineering, the approach to engineering (also called the engineering method) and the role of experience in engineering. The basis for understanding the nature of engineering science will be explored, and will be contrasted with natural science. To begin, a large-scale engineering project that was successfully completed in Ireland many years ago is discussed - specifically, the development of a megalithic passage tomb as an exemplar of the engineering method in structural design, project management and aesthetics. This exemplar firmly demonstrates that engineering method existed before the development and understanding of the relevant natural science. We next contrast the nature of engineering or engineering science and natural science. This discussion will further develop the engineering model, but will contrast the philosophical differences between engineering and science. We then return to build upon the 'engineering model' through the modern day exemplar of the development of the jet engine, demonstrating that invariably multiple factors, including creative design initiatives from different sources, global, political, economic and cultural circumstance, and the passage of time contribute to the evolution and success (or failure) of large sustainable scientific and engineering projects. In conclusion, the engineering model is mapped to a philosophical model demonstrating that philosophy is as relevant to engineering as it is to other fields.