The Paradox of Industrial Involvement in Engineering Higher Education

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Mitra, Srinjoy, Raskin, Jean-Pierre
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Mitra, Srinjoy
Raskin, Jean-Pierre
author_facet Mitra, Srinjoy
Raskin, Jean-Pierre
contents This paper discusses the importance of reflective and socially conscious education in engineering schools, particularly within the EE/CS sector. While most engineering disciplines have historically aligned themselves with the demands of the technology industry, the lack of critical examination of industry practices and their impact on justice, equality, and sustainability is self-evident. Today, the for-profit engineering/technology companies, some of which are among the largest in the world, also shape the narrative of engineering education and research in universities. As engineering graduates form the largest cohorts within STEM disciplines in Western countries, they become future professionals who will work, lead, or even establish companies in this industry. Unfortunately, the curriculum within engineering education often lacks a deep understanding of social realities, an essential component of a comprehensive university education. Here we establish this unusual connection with the industry that has driven engineering higher education for several decades and its obvious negative impacts to society. We analyse this nexus and highlight the need for engineering schools to hold a more critical viewpoint. Given the wealth and power of modern technology companies, particularly in the ICT domain, questioning their techno-solutionism narrative is essential within the institutes of higher education.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_16766
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Paradox of Industrial Involvement in Engineering Higher Education
Mitra, Srinjoy
Raskin, Jean-Pierre
Computers and Society
This paper discusses the importance of reflective and socially conscious education in engineering schools, particularly within the EE/CS sector. While most engineering disciplines have historically aligned themselves with the demands of the technology industry, the lack of critical examination of industry practices and their impact on justice, equality, and sustainability is self-evident. Today, the for-profit engineering/technology companies, some of which are among the largest in the world, also shape the narrative of engineering education and research in universities. As engineering graduates form the largest cohorts within STEM disciplines in Western countries, they become future professionals who will work, lead, or even establish companies in this industry. Unfortunately, the curriculum within engineering education often lacks a deep understanding of social realities, an essential component of a comprehensive university education. Here we establish this unusual connection with the industry that has driven engineering higher education for several decades and its obvious negative impacts to society. We analyse this nexus and highlight the need for engineering schools to hold a more critical viewpoint. Given the wealth and power of modern technology companies, particularly in the ICT domain, questioning their techno-solutionism narrative is essential within the institutes of higher education.
title The Paradox of Industrial Involvement in Engineering Higher Education
topic Computers and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.16766