Preparing the Global Software Engineer

With a goal of preparing software engineering students for practice in today’s global settings, Uppsala University has for some years run courses involving global collaboration. The “IT in Society” course is one such course which applies an ‘Open Ended Group Project’ model, in partnership with a local health sector client and global educational partners. Within each iteration of the course, students across the partnering institutions are given a brief around an open-ended problem. They work in collaboration with their client and stakeholders to investigate options and produce a report with their findings and recommendations, informed by global perspectives. The report may or may not be supported by working software prototypes. We analyze student evaluations & reflections on the course to unpack their perceptions of software engineering, the perceived relevance of a global learning experience and its role in reshaping their identities as global software engineers

Asset management framework for NSW local government

Modern societies rely heavily on engineering infrastructure to underpin the fabric of society for transport, communication, water supply or waste disposal. Effective management of this infrastructure is essential to ensure sustainability in an environment of scarce global resources and limited economic means. In Australia, the majority of infrastructure assets are managed and maintained by the Local Government. This study reviews the currently recommended best practice within Australia and proposes a simplified framework that a New South Wales Local Government Organisation can use to implement or benchmark a best practice framework. The International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM) states that the objective of asset management is 'to meet a required level of service, in the most cost effective manner, through the management of assets for present and future customers' (IPWEA, NAMS & AECOM 2011). The Local Government delivers services to the local community utilising public funds, thus understanding the level of service required by the community and responsibly using funds to achieve it is the highest priority. The NSW State Government currently has a particular focus on sustainable, fit-for-purpose Local Government systems generating a greater demand for Local Governments to thoroughly understand their infrastructure assets and manage them appropriately. This study has reviewed the currently endorsed best practice methodology at the national level through recommendations by the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australia (IP- WEA). Each state’s requirements have then been reviewed and case studies of government entities within NSW undertaken. The findings of the research and case studies have been used to generate a framework for local government and suggest model systems to meet the asset management requirements

Approaches to the embedding of sustainability into the engineering curriculum - where are we now, and how do our graduates become global engineers?

This paper presents a resume of how the topic of sustainability can become fully-integrated into the engineering curriculum in the UK, and how this needs to evolve toward consideration of how graduates could be better developed as global engineers. The paper begins by providing a justification as to why sustainability is an important feature of the already overcrowded engineering curriculum, and briefly reports, through illustrative examples, on alternative approaches which currently embed sustainability into the engineering curriculum. The paper makes the case that it is timely now to re-address the learning outcomes in order to enhance the students’ experience beyond just the inclusion of new curriculum content It does this by consideration of the identified drivers that range from the accrediting bodies and from the aspirations of employers, through revised approaches to embed sustainability, to the consideration of students’ own perceptions of sustainability and ultimately to their becoming employed as global engineers. The paper therefore discusses both the current and planned work toward supporting the development of engineering graduates into global citizens, with a greater emphasis upon their responsibility to ensure a sustainable future world, moving beyond sustainability awareness towards informed application of sustainability thinking

A review of literature on communication skills development (CSD) in the engineering curriculum

Engineering education has expanded recently to include emphasis on the development of some very specific non-technical attributes that match a strong technical base to produce well-rounded engineering graduates who are flexible and adaptable to suit the constantly developing and changing requirements of the workplace. These non technical skills include communication skills, the ability to function in teams, knowledge of societal and contemporary issues, development of global perspective, and ethics awareness. A great importance of these abilities to engineering education has emerged over the last decade even within the international and local scene. Within the Malaysian context, the Engineering Accreditation Council’s (EAC) Engineering Program Accreditation Manual(BEM, 2007) , outlines ten learning outcomes that encompasses both the technical and non technical skills which are considered essential for graduating engineers. Similarly, the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) Criterion 3 (ABET, 2000), outlines eleven criterion which targeted many of these as essential program outcomes in order for engineering programs to be accredited and which are seen as critical for the success in the twenty first century. Communication skills development(CSD) is one of the outcomes required by an undergraduate engineering program in the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) in Malaysia as well as in the ABET Engineering Criteria 2000 (ABET, 2000). CSD is essential for an engineer who aspires to carry out his/her professional practice in the global arena and especially in the English language. With an increasingly global economy, the Malaysian education system must produce graduates who can communicate effectively in English. Otherwise, it would lose one of its vital selling points for foreign investors to ensure that skilled labor force are sufficient to support internationally competitive commerce and industry and to provide individuals with opportunities to optimize their potentials (Muhammad Rashid bin Rajuddin, 2006; Riemer, 2002)

Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility: Military Work and Peacebuilding

The paper considers a number of important questions related to the involvement of engineers in peacebuilding and military work, including the preference of many countries for high tech weapons based security over peacebuilding, whether and in what circumstances, if any, it is justified for engineers to be involved in military work; and how engineers can persuade their colleagues to apply their skills to support peacebuilding. It is introduced by an overview of what is meant by the term military work and the extent and consequences of the use of military technology worldwide. This is followed by the applications of different approaches and theories of ethics to discuss the questions presented in the introduction. The approaches and theories applied include considerations of micro-and macro-ethics, codes of ethics, virtue ethics, considerations of gender and paradigms and the ethical imperative. Initial insights include the importance of considering the associated context and the need to avoid othering, which can make different treatment of minority groups, including the use of high tech weapons against them, seem acceptable

Shift for engineering horizons

Science, Engineering and Technology cross nearly every facet of modern life and, as problem solvers, engineers are perfectly capable of managing entrepreneurial activities, mastering innovative ways of business development, when they spend time and efforts understanding and acting in the field. Engineers rely on science and methods for analysis to ensure the quality and liability of design; nevertheless a pinch of creativity is required in order to find innovative solutions for economic and entrepreneurial problems. So, at present, engineers with technical skills must also learn how to work in interdisciplinary teams, how to develop designs rapidly, how to manufacture sustainably, how to combine art and engineering and how to address global markets. Providing opportunities in the work market for future engineers has become now part of university training, as a way to assure also the future competitiveness of universities. In many places, enterprises and universities have still difficulties in working together, it is up to engineering schools and universities to have the initiative to enhance their programs, to assure the proper training for future professionals that can perform in this mutant work environment of the 21st Century. According to the report “The Engineer of 2020”, developed by the National Academy of Engineering, USA, which paints a picture of a dynamically changing and evolving world: “The successful future engineer will need strong analytical skills, practical ingenuity, creativity, good communication skills, business and management knowledge, leadership, high ethical standards, professionalism, dynamism, agility, resilience, flexibility, and the pursuit of lifelong learning”. Currently, the opportunities for professionals seem to be very narrow, once economic crisis is impacting countries and communities worldwide, as the result of a natural cyclic wave of economy, until a new economic model starts to work somehow. To provide future professionals an opportunity in the work market has now become part of university training as a way to assure the future of university. COPEC – Science and Education Research Council’s education research team has designed and implemented a program for engineering students which is called “Working with Communities Course”, providing 3rd year engineering students the chance to work as consultants for the entrepreneurial community in the city. The goal is to offer a space that has been named “Innovative Office”, to which local entrepreneurs can resort to in order to discuss and to find sustainable solutions for a specific problem or project. The choice of the name working with communities was due to the enticing appeal once as young “green generation” they want to cooperate with society segments in any way. However the true goal is to give them a chance to have a professional experience and also some time of internship although early in the program. As they work using their creativity to design and present solutions within the constraints of ethical practice grounded in science and engineering methods and standards, they can evaluate the reality of professional practice and see if engineering is really what they want to pursue as a career. They have to work using their creativity to design and present solutions within the constraints of ethical practice grounded in science and engineering methods and standards. The process involves face-to-face meetings and discussions with entrepreneurs of the city, from the presentation of the problem until the delivery of the plans. Once engineers are part of society it is important that they have a stronger interaction with the wider public. So the goal of including this course in the program is to provide students the opportunity to work closely with the real local entrepreneurship environment. Apart from this, engineers need to develop broad fundamental understanding of their professional responsibilities, as well as the need to be entrepreneurial in order to understand and contribute in the context of market and business pressures. If engineers can work with the public to explain how engineering can help address their problems, and to help them to decide which are the most effective and affordable ways to address their concerns, the community can make great progress and improvements. It will surely be a great acquisition for the city business community as well as for the students themselves, once they can get a glimpse of what it is to engineer in real world. This project has the chance developed in partnership with a City Hall as a way to improve entrepreneurship in the region, aiming at fostering employment and private initiatives to change community’s profile. It is an immersive period of internship, in real engineering work environment.Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE: POCI-010145-FEDER-007043FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/201

Unconventional gas: potential energy market impacts in the European Union

In the interest of effective policymaking, this report seeks to clarify certain controversies and identify key gaps in the evidence-base relating to unconventional gas. The scope of this report is restricted to the economic impact of unconventional gas on energy markets. As such, it principally addresses such issues as the energy mix, energy prices, supplies, consumption, and trade flows. Whilst this study touches on coal bed methane and tight gas, its predominant focus is on shale gas, which the evidence at this time suggests will be the form of unconventional gas with the most growth potential in the short- to medium-term. This report considers the prospects for the indigenous production of shale gas within the EU-27 Member States. It evaluates the available evidence on resource size, extractive technology, resource access and market access. This report also considers the implications for the EU of large-scale unconventional gas production in other parts of the world. This acknowledges the fact that many changes in the dynamics of energy supply can only be understood in the broader global context. It also acknowledges that the EU is a major importer of energy, and that it is therefore heavily affected by developments in global energy markets that are largely out of its control.JRC.F.3-Energy securit

Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers

Human societies rely on the vast diversity of benefits provided by nature, such as food, fibres, construction materials, clean water, clean air and climate regulation. All the elements required for these ecosystem services depend on soil, and soil biodiversity is the driving force behind their regulation. With 2010 being the international year of biodiversity and with the growing attention in Europe on the importance of soils to remain healthy and capable of supporting human activities sustainably, now is the perfect time to raise awareness on preserving soil biodiversity. The objective of this report is to review the state of knowledge of soil biodiversity, its functions, its contribution to ecosystem services and its relevance for the sustainability of human society. In line with the definition of biodiversity given in the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Convention, soil biodiversity can be defined as the variation in soil life, from genes to communities, and the variation in soil habitats, from micro-aggregates to entire landscapes. Bio Intelligence Service, IRD, and NIOO, Report for European Commission (DG Environment