Profile of the Engineer of 2001: the engineer's full human responsibility

SUMMARY

Engineering education is now in focus in many countries. The reason for this is our heavy dependence on technology linked to hardening international competition. In the continuing process of reviewing and revising the contents of technical education it is important to consider not only the narrow demands of our industries but the very broad demands and perspectives of our societies. The engineer can no longer remain a detached specialist, but must accept broad human responsibility for our environment, our natural resources and people's feelings and reactions concerning technology. The background of environmental threats and technological accidents is well known. Engineers must be ready to participate in the development of new visions, including being ready to adhere to values. The goals for the M.Sc. at Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg. Sweden clearly reflect these broad responsibilities and tasks for engineers. It is emphasised that the education of the students must attain these goals in some way. This requires changes in and not only additions to, the curricula. Consequently, during the last few years at Chalmers an increasing part has been devoted to subjects such as history of technology, technology and society, written and oral communication, foreign languages, ethics, environmental science