(514c) Are We Preparing Our Students for a Flat World?

This paper will attempt to answer three main questions: what qualities do employers at multi-national industries value in our students? Are our engineering students prepared for the global market? What can be done to better prepare them and help them compete in a flat world? The paper will argue that qualities sought after the most besides a thorough grounding and understanding of science, math, and engineering fundamentals, are excellent communication and interpersonal skills combined with the ability to work on teams and understand complex assignments and the subtleties of adapting to different environments. While our current engineering students may not have these qualities, engineering curricula could incorporate them without loss of any educational value. Strategies could be the inclusion of enrichment components to our students' education like language and culture immersion or technical cooperative programs and internships abroad. In addition, courses in social sciences and the humanities could emphasize world civilizations, global issues, and successful international business and management practices. Extra-curricular activities could also provide opportunities for innovation, intellectual curiosity, implementation of a vision, and goal-oriented leadership skills.