EDUCATING ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING MAJORS FOR A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

Electrical and computer engineers are more frequently being asked to work in an environment that relies on global partnerships and demands global awareness.This shift in engineering responsibilities fueled by worldwide connectivity and outsourcing activities imposes a challenge for engineering educators in the United States: re-examine their curricula to find ways to instill a global awareness in US educated engineers.Graduates of U.S. institutions are currently required to meet the Accreditation Board's Outcomes (a) -(k) as described in ABET2000 Criterion C.These outcomes call on engineers to be knowledgeable of contemporary issues and to embrace lifelong learning, but do not address the preparation of U.S. engineers to function on the world stage and with a global perspective.This paper addresses the educational challenges in adjusting the Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BS/ECE) curricula to respond to the engineering profession's march toward globalization.Issues ranging from communication skills, ability to function on a multicultural team, understanding of global environmental issues, international treaties, and international intellectual property laws are discussed.Ideas on infusing these concepts in the curriculum are presented beginning with introductory coursework and ending in the capstone design experience.