Departments to Domains
Dear Friends and Students
Today I had an opportunity to listen to the Message of Ford CEO on Alvin Foo's Twitter Handle (twitter.com/alvinfoo/status/1680019471254315008).
I recommend you should listen to this 1.5-minute perspective. Though he is talking about Ford Vehicle Automation Scenario, I am seeing this from an Engineering Education Impact perspective.
Foo Tweet says, “Ford CEO explains why legacy car manufacturers cannot compete with Tesla in software (or make good software). This is the same reason why many of them will eventually go out of business, the disruption is real and they are simply unable to transform fast enough vs Tesla and the new Chinese EV makers.”.
Ford CEO says, their car module consists of 150+ modules developed by tens of software companies. As it is legacy code, these car companies have to take permission from these vendors to modify and make it an interoperable module. However, Tesla or any other EV vehicle is developing their own brand-new software for the Car and gaining a competitive advantage!
If we decode this problem deep into various other domains and corresponding education changes, it is going to be an eye-opener. A day is going to be near that what we teach in the classroom (e.g., Internal Combustion Engines) is no more relevant! For e.g., as you are all aware, Norway is the trailblazer in ending the reign of ICE vehicles, with only zero-emission new vehicles either battery electric or hydrogen to be sold from 2025. I am sure Norway's Mechanical Engineering departments might have to phase out their syllabus and change their curriculum completely. Eventually, the same case with all Mechanical Engineering departments across the world.
If 3D printing becomes the norm, that means that there will be even more demand for chemical engineering, however, there would be new materials and fabrication techniques being developed. Again, there would be an impact on the Curriculum. It becomes software/automation-enabled Chemical Engineering.
Engineering Automation companies like Siemens, ABB, Emerson, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Mitsubishi, Yokogawa Electric, Omron Automation, Danaher Industrial Ltd, etc approach towards automation is mind-blowing. Their JDs are already demanding 50% domain expertise, and 50% software expertise to automate their engineering processes.
Dear Friends, from In Engineering Software Perspective, control engineering to automation to computer science are slowly merging (Industry 4.0), resulting in Trans-Disciplinary Engineering Education!
The boom for software continues however in my view, Engineering Education is not going to be based on Departments (CSE, ECE, EEE, CHEM, MECH, CIVIL) in the future! It would be called Energy, Automobile, Control & Safety Systems, Design & Operations Software, Industrial Robots, Industrial Automation and Test and Measurement Solutions, Life science, environmental, etc. Each of these Domains needs to teach specific domain knowledge, electrical, electronics, software specific to that process, and automation process as part of the curriculum.
I am sure, It demands the overhaul of the entire process change right from the policy definition, regulatory approvals, restructuring of the department, faculty recruitment/re-training of the existing, infrastructure in the institutions (industry and institutions together operate the course), Labs delivery (more labs, less theory, more internships, more field works), examination grading (no traditional assessment, more assignment driven), recruitment (internships based), entrance examinations (domain interest-based general awareness questions and aptitude), etc
If these predictions are right, I am sure this change would take place in less than 5 years!
As Ford's CEO mentioned for Vehicles, similarly the traditional mindset-driven colleges are extinct. Progressive colleges would survive.
My Past Personal Experience
Back in 2010, I quit Wipro to start campaigning for the Centre for Innovation in Schools and Colleges. People laughed at me for the decision and concept in Schools and Engineering Colleges/Universities. Back in 2010, hardly there were any colleges with the Centre for Innovation.
I sent proposals to all stakeholders including right from the President of India, the PMO, every CM, Secretaries, all colleges and schools Principals, DEOs, etc. That time the response was weak. Today as we are talking on July 2023, we have a Centre for Innovation and Incubation in every University/Institution, we have IIC clubs in every college, and Atal Tinkering Labs in the majority of the schools. With the same time operated conviction, I am confident that Departments would change to Domains in the future Colleges!
Time to Think!
Ravi Saripalle
Note: Opinions expressed by authors are their own.
Pic credits: Pixabay
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
View Details
Like
0 Comments
Repost
You may also like
The Art of Teaching
Published 7d+
The Power of Words: Transforming Classroom Conversations
As educators, the words we choose have the power to uplift, encourage, and shape young minds. A simple shift in language can turn frustration into understanding and negativity into growth. The way we communicate
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Art of Parenting
Art of Parenting is a perfect Parallel to Ceiling Fan Rotation Direction!! Learn from the Fan! Read this Interesting Perspective!!Dear Parents and ChildrenThis was a puzzle I had for many years! Why
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
Computer Science Engineering
What is computer science Engineering Computer Science Engineering (CSE) is an academic programme that integrates the field of Computer Engineering and Computer Science. It is one
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
All About SASTRA
SASTRA University: A Premier Destination for Quality EducationSASTRA Deemed University, officially known as Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, is a top-tier institution located
Karunakar. T
Published 7d+
Lead us into ‘light’
The darkness was absolute. Nothing could be seen. I stretched my arms trying to find something, anything. My groping hands touched the wall. I started feeling my way around moving forward gingerly. The
Siddharth Jaiswal
Published 7d+
ARE MEDALS IN THE NEW AGE WON OR BOUGHT?
It is not a scathing attempt to undermine the grit, perseverance, ability, will and superhuman levelsof hard work of any athlete who competes among the best and emerges victorious, making thenation
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
From Guru-Shishya to AI Agents: Will AI Replace Teachers?
Dear Friends,I am a 5th-generation teacher in my family. My great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather, and grandfather followed the Guru-Shishya Parampara way of teaching. It was an oral tradition,
Kartikeya Kommanamanchi
Published 7d+
Complexion Conundrum: Examining Discrimination in India
My Personal ExperienceWhile living in a cocoon in my native place, I never experienced the harsh reality of racism that has been persisting in India. When I came to Delhi a couple of months ago, I started
Prasanth
Published 7d+
A demonstration of Influencing people without a formal Authority through CORE values
Recently, I read a book "Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager" by Suzette Blakemore, Kory Kogon, James Wood. It stresses on the mastery of four foundational behaviours to be
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Metaverse- All happening in a Pair of Glasses
“Pair-of-glasses” is the Next Internet Revolution? Metaverse Combined with Design Thinking Rule the Social Experience in Next 10 Years? Are You Ready to Embrace? Read this Interesting Perspective!!Dear
VENKATESH PANYAM
Published 7d+
How to Learn Physics
Walter Lewin a former professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) says “ Teachers who make Physics boring are criminals”. I agree with him. Physics
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Is 2022 Good or Bad
Somebody asked me to write a Story on Year 2022! Here is my attempt!Dear Friends and Students2022 is a message to the entire community! As on Jan 2022, we were still in Corona Age! 36 Lakhs
Related Blogs
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Is Computer Science Course an Opportunity or Obsession?
Is Computer Science Course (2022 Beyond) an Opportunity or Obsession? Fad or Fortune? Vertical Skill or Horizontal Skill? Read this perspectiveDear Friends and StudentsThe California Gold Rush
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Should I join ECE or not?
Should I join ECE or not? Do I have a Future? This Message is a Response to these questions! Read this perspective!Dear Students and FriendsA couple of days back, one of my colleagues asked what
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
What are the Future Job Opportunities for ECE/EEE/Mech/Civil/Chem Students?
What are the Future Job Opportunities for ECE/EEE/Mech/Civil/Chem Students? Yesterday I was sharing a video message (https://youtu.be/PAFuE-S3YL0 ) to all Engineering students on how they
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Metaverse- All happening in a Pair of Glasses
“Pair-of-glasses” is the Next Internet Revolution? Metaverse Combined with Design Thinking Rule the Social Experience in Next 10 Years? Are You Ready to Embrace? Read this Interesting Perspective!!Dear
Sandip University
Published 7d+
MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management
MBA in hospital and healthcare managementWhat is Hospital and Healthcare Management and why do we need it?Hospital and Healthcare Management refers to inch-by-inch management procedures involved in
Sandip University
Published 7d+
Civil Engineering Course and its Prospects
What is Civil Engineering?A proper description of Civil Engineering would be: ‘The art of redirecting and using the resources of nature to create convenient structures to sustain the life of man,