The importance of engineering in the modern world

Engineers don’t sit back and watch – they make things happen. Using innovation, creativity and a wealth of knowledge, engineering graduates are impacting the world unlike any other.

The world is changing, and engineers are the ones behind so much of this development. The majority of today’s services and products had some element of engineering involved in their conception at least, paving the way to long, fulfilling and healthy lives for the people influenced by them.

Engineers must be critical yet creative; curious yet capable; as well as ready to handle the constantly changing world.

The wide range of disciplines that fall under the engineering title mean that no matter what the prospective student’s interest, there’s bound to be one facet of the sector they’ll find enticing and engaging. Whether its civil, electrical, chemical or mechanical engineering, if you like tinkering, creating, designing or building, the engineering sector has a place for you.

In an advanced technological world, we need engineers to bring ideas into reality. By applying the principles of mathematics and science, engineers develop solutions to the world’s biggest technical issues.

You could find yourself doing anything from building new bridges to developing electrical sockets for refugee camps; working on special effects for blockbuster movies or testing aircraft and aerospace products. With a myriad of positions open to engineers in almost every field, graduates happily welcome the huge choice of careers they have the potential to explore.

The engineering portfolio knows no bounds, but these people are all working to the same common goal: building a sustainable world. Whatever you wish to contribute to society through your engineering dedication, nothing compares to the knowledge that you’ve achieved something that’s impacted people’s lives for the better.

Considering studying in the engineering field but stuck with where to go? We’ve scoured the globe and found four universities that are making waves in engineering education…

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MURDOCH UNIVERSITY – AUSTRALIA

The School of Engineering and Information Technology (SEIT) is an innovative faculty where students can pursue their studies in a stimulating learning environment.  Here, learners gain practical experience in Australia’s best renewable energy and engineering research facilities, including a $10.1 million Bayer Pilot Plant – the only one of its kind in Western Australia.

Murdoch’s Engineering and Technology courses stand out as some of the best in the country when compared to other Australian Universities. For overall experience in Australian engineering and technology education, Murdoch has been ranked the very best. Its learning resources and teaching quality are ranked second-best in the country and it produces the third-best average in terms of graduate salary.

The school has a keen focus on merging disciplines to produce multi-talented, well-rounded graduates. SEIT’s focus on innovation to benefit society comes to life in its cross-disciplinary groups researching Sustainable Energy, Environmental Engineering, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Energy and Power, and Physics and Nanotechnology. All SEIT students are involved in the labs and projects which support these cutting-edge groups.

The school’s world-class facilities and esteemed faculty prepare students to thrive in dynamic and fulfilling careers.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (UHK)

The Faculty at Engineering at UHK tries to stay ahead of the game, keeping up with developments in the world of engineering and producing pioneering research through five departments in modern engineering, technology and computer science.

The faculty is not afraid to collaborate, offering interdisciplinary programsm, including a BEng in Medical Engineering, offered jointly with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.

Programs here are constantly updated to reflect changes in the world. The faculty even brings out new courses where necessary; the BEng in Engineering Science program was first offered in 2012 as a response to the ever-increasing demand for high-caliber engineers who are equipped with the knowhow and skill needed to tackle multidisciplinary world problems.

By encouraging cross-disciplinary study, the faculty aims to provide an all-round education to ensure graduates have all they need to become a successful engineer. Qualified students come away with a grasp on lateral thinking, superb communication skills, a sense of professionalism, knowledge of cutting-edge technologies and more, ready for their futures.

Many UHK engineering graduates are now pursuing senior, prestigious positions in various industry roles – including in the commercial sector, education and government.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (NUS)

NUS Engineering’s passionate community allows potential engineering leaders to flourish, promoting a global understanding of the discipline and facilitating high-impact research. The faculty has contributed significant amounts of research to benefit the industrial and economic growth of the nation.

Classes are led in small groups where teachers ensure student voices are heard. In the very first semester, participants are given a taste of what it’s really like to be an engineer with hands-on experiments designed to mimic real-world situations they could experience outside of class. All sessions are intended to imitate professional settings so graduates leave prepared to tackle the workplace.

Life at NUS isn’t just restricted to the classroom; an extensive list of clubs, student groups and other social activities gives students a flavour of what it’s really like on this buzzing campus. NUS also ensures students leave ready for the world of work when their time at university comes to an end, with many industry networking events and supportive career advisors.

The school also encourages students to undertake a 12-week internship as part of their course, priming them for entry to the workplace soon after graduation.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND – NEW ZEALAND

The largest tertiary institution in New Zealand, the University of Auckland, houses 40,000 students across four main campuses and four satellite sites.

The faculty is particularly renowned for its world-class research, in which it fosters the inter-disciplinary potential of notable findings. Students and staff often collaborate with many public and private organisations, research institutions, and industry professionals. Its researchers are making ground-breaking discoveries in the engineering field, pushing for change and creating ever-evolving programs that strive to stay on top of the latest developments.

In late 2019, the university will launch its brand-new, purpose-built engineering facility, inviting students to utilize its study hubs, tailor-made to support students’ learning, with many of them big enough to accommodate large student cohorts and collaboration. The building will have an interdisciplinary nature, encouraging students to share knowledge and work together to broaden their understanding of the discipline.

The integrative nature of the faculty doesn’t just reside in this yet-to-be-built space but in everything the university does. Its multidisciplinary learning spaces (MDLS) give staff and students flexible areas in which labs can be customized, giving them space to move equipment and furniture to create the optimum learning environment for individual groups.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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