Engineering Education GLOBALIZATION OF CONTINUING ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND THE BOLOGNA PROCESS Mrs. Zsuzsanna Sárközi Zágoni Professor János Ginsztler Budapest University of President Technology and Economics Hungarian Academy of Engineering Deputy Director of the Institute of Continuing Engineering Education Engineering Education The Bologna Process „3 years later” Zagreb, Croatia November 8-10, 2007

INTRODUCTION The evaluation of the consequences of the Bologna Declaration in Hungary and also in other countries is possible only, if we take into account the present surrounding, which is today our globalized world. Our lecture deals – among others – with the different aspects of globalization, with the “half-life” of an engineering degree, and also with a very positive consequence of the Bologna process: with the increasing mobility of engineering students and engineers worldwide. The lecture underlines the new role and importance of continuing engineering education and the continuing professional development (CPD) as a demand of all increasing economies. This demand is continuously increasing in Hungary. The Bologna Declaration led fundamental changes of the architecture of European higher education. From one side more and more engineers will work across national boundaries, from the other side it is not clear yet – at least in Hungary – the effect of the introduction of two-tier structure in engineering education for the labour market. Most of our Universities introduced – but not at the same time – the B.Sc.-M.Sc.-Ph D system, based on the Bologna Declaration, but general feedbacks are to be waited only within the next 3-5 years.

No age is too late to begin learning Seneca: No age is too late to begin learning

Globalization is a reality today The quick development of computer science and the modern telecommunication has changed our world, and the Continuing Engineering Education found itself in the centre of GLOBALIZATION. To evaluate the consequences of the Bologna Declaration in Hungary and also in other countries – it is possible – only if we take into account the recent surrounding, which is today our globalized world.

Different aspects of globalization Globalization of the world market Development of global communication systems Globalization of international institutions in the field of higher education, environmental protection, security policy, etc. Globalization of political systems.

The half-life on an engineering degree The half-life of an engineering degree is approximately 3-7 years depending on the types of different professions. Therefore the continuing engineering education is essential in all engineering profession.

Increasing mobility One of the aims of the Bologna process is to facilitate convergence of the various higher education systems in Europe towards a more transparent system using a common framework based on three cycles: Bachelor, Master and Doctorate. As one of the consequences of the Bologna agreement, an increasing mobility of engineers is to be seen worldwide.

The role of engineers in the interest of increasing welfare of the societies It is more and more evident, that a new approach to characterize the power of a nation is the knowledge to be found in the minds of engineers, medical doctors, scientists, industrial and agricultural workers, managers and administrators, etc. The engineering profession represents worldwide an essential bridge between the science and technology, and therefore also between the science and society.

Response of the engineers in a globalized world Engineers see themselves as and integral part of a global society. The well-known slogan “think global, act local” is part of their philosophy of life. Engineers have the will and ability to work across all political, cultural and ethnic boundaries.

The necessity of updating of engineering teachers With the fast technological changes engineering professors will be forced to develop and update their knowledge and improve also their pedagogical skills. They have to differ clearly the difference between the contents of the B.Sc. and M.Sc. curricula.

The new role and importance of continuing engineering education As a consequence of the fast technological changes, all engineers have to follow the quick changes, not only in the field of engineering, but also in the field of connecting areas like economy, law, standardization, etc.

Social impacts of continuing engineering education Continuing engineering educational programs can often be effected by collaboration at the international levels, particularly in developing countries. Collaborations between developed and developing countries, engineering schools can be effective. Africa – usually – does not have the entrepreneurial spirit we may find in China and in India, and there is a wide gap between science and practical applications. Through proper continuing engineering education courses this gap can be decreased.

The impact of globalization on sustainability The continuing engineering educational courses must deal also with methods and technologies, which are suitable and beneficial for decreasing the harmful effects of globalization on sustainability, for example like how to avoid global warming. This is one of those areas, which has to be integral part of the continuing professional development, because in many B.Sc. and M.Sc. courses this most important area is missing today.

Strengthening academic/industry cooperation It is very important to strengthen cooperation among engineering schools and industry for mutual benefit. Quite a few European countries today also offer a more application-oriental engineering education as well, typically of 3 or 3,5 years’ duration. Continuing engineering educational programs must in all cases satisfy the industrial demands and must take into account the educational background of the audience.

Driving force for globalization of R+D+I (innovation) in our decade In our days the innovation ability of individuals and firms becomes more and more important, so the R+D+I activity of a local or an international company is essential today.

The role of internationalized engineering education in the age of globalization The study abroad programs are very useful for the engineering students first of all in the postgraduate programs. More and more engineers will work across national boundaries, and therefore they must understand the cultures, traditions and languages of countries where they will work or where their products will be utilized.

Continuing engineering education in developing countries It is fact, that the existence of Bologna agreement accelerated the mobility of creative engineers. In those cases, when engineers from developing countries come and stay in advanced scientific and technological centres of developed countries, they may collect high-level knowledge and take back into their home countries. When foreign engineers come to work and teach in developing countries, their continuing engineering courses contain advanced knowledge and technological solutions.

SUMMARY The Hungarian Academy of Engineering promotes the development in Hungary in every scientific professional field which is in connection with the development of technologies, using the multidisciplinary knowledge of its members as well as their international acknowledgement and experience. The Bologna Declaration led fundamental changes of the architecture of European higher education.

The effect of the introduction of two-tier structure in engineering education for the labour-market is not clear yet. How the application-oriented shorter engineering education should fit into the Bologna scheme remains an open question. This question is open in Hungary also today. Most of our universities introduced – but not at the same time – the B.Sc-M.Sc-PhD system, based on the Bologna Declaration, but general feed-backs are to be waited only within the next 3-5 years.

It is evident, that as a consequence of the Bologna Declaration the importance of the continuing professional development (CPD) has significantly increased, the interest towards the different up-to-date postgraduate courses have also increased in Hungary, and the Hungarian Academy of Engineering supports all initiatives, which promotes the CPD activities in the country.