The Expanding World of Engineers
For the past decade or so, engineers have been creating new inventions and building taller structures to keep up with the rapidly advancing technological breakthroughs and discoveries. These are the people who hold the important role of making the world a more comfortable place for mankind to live in.
The definition of an engineer, as stated by www.dictionary.com, is “a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines, or in any of various branches of engineering”. This has somewhat become the stereotypical image that pops up in one’s head when the word ‘engineer’ is mentioned, as pointed out by Professor Seeram Ramakrishna. Without a doubt, the definition is not wrong at all. Engineers are the people who construct the various machines and structures that surround us, and the majority of people who were trained in this field are still very much carrying out their duties till this day.
However, since recent times, engineers are being sought after by a diverse range of other disciplines, such as the service and finance sector, just to name a few. One of the reasons engineers are in demand is because engineers have an edge over other graduates, in a sense where engineers are technologically inclined. In an era of ubiquitous computing, where computers and machines are everywhere, being knowledgeable in new technologies or understanding existing ones proves to incur a positive impact in the solutions that engineers provide.
From the article, Professor Seeram states that “an engineer’s training helps to systematically analyze complex information and apply a holistic (systematic) approach in designing solutions”. A huge part that contributes to this ability of an engineer is through the training in tertiary institutes. These days, the course structure for an engineering diploma or degree in these institutes is designed to challenge aspiring engineers in decision-making as well as systematic thinking.
As an example, polytechnic engineering students are given a year-long final year project which requires intensive planning and wise decision-making. Through extensive hands-on practice and exposure, these skills are subconsciously fused into the minds of an engineer.
A more illustrative way to look at it is by looking at a car for example. As an engineer, the first step to building a complete car is to fix the first nut and bolt. By identifying this first step, the engineer is then able to build different parts of the car, such as the engine, the brakes, the doors and the gearbox. The next stage is to assemble all these parts together, where the end product is a complete car. Through practical exercises like these, indirectly, an engineer is programmed to think systematically. By looking at a problem from its source, an engineer gradually and systematically looks into different aspects of the problem until a final solution is being crafted.
As a whole, engineers have always been playing an important role in our community. But now, their importance in the society has increased due to the recognition of an engineer’s ability to develop meaningful solutions thanks to their systematic thinking abilities. A huge part of the training to become an engineer emphasizes on these skills, and now, there is a wide demand for engineers in the work force because of the increased awareness regarding the importance of the skills an engineer can deliver.
