Aeronautical engineering: a new paradigm for education

Abstract

All engineering fields went through a tremendous change during the last ten years, when the new technologies brought about unpredictable supports to engineers. The tri-dimension printing is only one example among many. In the Aeronautical Engineering domain, however, some of these changes are shifting from being a conventional interface between the man and the machine to becoming an integral part of the system. (The embedded safety systems are just one example). Although such integration is widening the spectrum of the aeronautical engineering education, and calls for users to be more clever in using their systems, it also requires that they become more competent solvers of complicated machinery problems especially when they are left to their own. These changes are not only curricular. It is not enough to change the content of the curriculum, but it is more needed to go for new methodology for teaching, adopting a new paradigm by preparing the future engineers to deal with new trends of machinery and support systems. It calls for imparting them with the sense of readiness for change, for adaptation, and for initiative. This cannot be done through a classical curriculum approach. Adopting an educational system based on acquiring the needed competencies, on mastering High Mental skills, and on problem-based learning is the path we have to advocate for. The objective of this presentation is to show how this strategy can be adopted, what will its ultimate results and implication is on Engineering education.