Many things should be understood about the Engineering schools of our universities worldwide and colleges. Some go into this field purely because they tinkered in their garages or in front of their computers and that is what they love. Others are outright there to make money, because that’s “where it’s at.” I have met students who are pretty much keeping the family business in mind or are there because their father wanted them to be an engineer too. I went in because I wanted to help people. I found out that generally speaking, I had no business being there.
The function of engineering schools is to supply the industrial world with “leaders.”
There is an effect that takes place as a result of the endless drilling problems, projects, and notetaking. It may not necessarily be the administrators’ intent, but the set up of the engineer’s education creates “doers” who are technically skilled and will take up any task that is placed before them. Combined with their prior convictions, their education creates a professional that is emotionally and logically disconnected from their actions’ impact on society. One time, in response to my comments suggesting that the engineering community needs to be more socially conscious and aware of the negative consequences they can cause, an engineer told me “It’s not our job to.” And this didn’t come from some arrogant veteran with a well-invested career. This came from a student, a friend of mine, who still had two years to go. This is the kind of responsible engineers that society can expect.
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