About Cross Cultural Service Learning For Responsible Engineering Graduates
| Authors | Vader, David; Erikson, Carl A.; Eby, John |
|---|---|
| Date | 1999 |
| Conference | 1999 Annual Conference |
| Vol / Pages | pp. 4.152.1-4.152.10 |
| URL | https://peer.asee.org/cross-cultural-service-learning-for-responsible-engineering-graduates |
Type: Conference Paper
Abstract
Engineering programs everywhere are developing mission statements and outcome assessment plans. Messiah College aims to graduate engineers who are “technically competent and broadly educated, prepared for interdisciplinary work in the global workplace.” Moreover, we want to influence our students so that their professional character and conduct are “consistent with Christian faith commitments.” The familiar process of gaining and learning to use new information achieves many of our goals for would-be engineers. But how do we grow beyond merely doing good engineering and learn to do good with our engineering? The paper first explores the need for responsible engineering. Is technique the principal responsibility of engineers, the material working out of objectives defined and supplied by others? Or are engineers also responsible, in view of our special knowledge, to create and use technologies in ways that preserve, honor and advance prevailing social, political economic values? The paper then examines the educational objectives of Messiah College vis-à-vis the college mission and responsible engineering. It considers the influence of the appropriate technology movement in shaping our purpose and the role of service-learning in shaping our program. The paper concludes with the case study of an international service-learning project of Messiah College Engineering.