Trends in mechanical engineering education: the international scenario and its relevance to Sri Lanka

Abstract

Mechanical Engineering Education has undergone major changes during the last few decades in most countries throughout the world but particularly so in the US and Europe. These include: the strong emphasis on engineering design, integrated throughout the curriculum; the need to connect and integrate contiguous ME disciplines together to form a more robust engineering science foundation; and the critical role that a senior level “capstone” product realization course should play in broadening students' understanding of engineering practice. There is also strong support for increasing emphasis on “active learning" where students participate more directly in the learning process and the important role played by “cooperative education" as referred to, in the US. It is important for Mechanical Engineering departments in Sri Lanka to take a closer look at these changes, and adapt them to enhance their own curricula by carefully noticing that what is best for other countries may not be the best for Sri Lanka.