Advancing the Competitiveness and Efficiency of the U.S. Construction Industry (2009) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix E: Creating and Cultivating the Next Generation of Construction Professionals--Jeffrey S. Russell
Appendix E: Creating and Cultivating the Next Generation of Construction Professionals--Jeffrey S. Russell
Pages 95-114
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From page 95... ...
Professor and Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chair, American Society of Civil Engineers Committee on Academic Prerequisites for Professional Practice Abstract: In today's global marketplace, how does one compete? Whether the competitive arena is real estate development, Internet sales, or construction-related activity, today's world stage is greatly reduced in size from what it once was.
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In the following sections of this paper, the author discusses the following topics: • How the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) views the global market and the civil engineer of 2025.
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From page 97... ...
The resulting integrated global aspirational vision is as follows: Entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life, civil engineers serve competently, collaboratively, and ethically as master: • Planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society's economic and social engine, the built environment; • Stewards of the natural environment and its resources; • Innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private, and academic sectors; • Managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and other threats; and • Leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and infrastructure policy.
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• The civil engineer embraces attitudes conducive to effective professional practice. He or she exhibits the following: -- Creativity and entrepreneurship that lead to the proactive identification of possibilities and opportunities and taking action to develop them; -- Commitment to ethics, personal and organizational goals, and worthy teams and organizations; -- Curiosity, which is a basis for continued learning, fresh approaches, the development of new technology or innovative applications of existing technology, and new endeavors; -- Honesty and integrity, that is, telling the truth and keeping one's word; -- Optimism in the face of challenges and setbacks, recognizing the power inherent in vision, commitment, planning, persistence, flexibility, and teamwork;
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offers this summary: 2 Please note that much of the material in the section entitled "Educational Preparation for the Engineering Professional of Tomorrow" has been extracted from the second edition of the American Society of Civil Engineer's Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century (ASCE, 2008b)
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The long-term effect of PS 465 is illustrated in Figure E.1 which compares today's civil engineering professional track with tomorrow's. The preceding, relative to today's approach, means that tomorrow's civil engineer will achieve the following: • Master more mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering science fundamentals; • Maintain technical breadth; • Acquire broader exposure to the humanities and social sciences; • Gain additional professional practice breadth; and, • Achieve greater technical depth -- that is, specialization.
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22. Attitudes Demonstrate attitudes supportive of the professional practice of civil engineering.
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convened a summit in the spring of 2008 to explore engineering solutions for a healthier, safer, cleaner, and more sustainable world. The summit focused on what mechanical engineering will become between now and 2028, and attendees worked to understand how the mechanical engineering profession could respond to present and future challenges and what critical knowledge and competencies mechanical engineers will need over the coming 20 years.
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. NOTE: B⎯portion of the BOK fulfilled through the bachelor's degree; M/30⎯portion of the BOK fulfilled through the master's degree or equivalent (approximately 30 semester credits of acceptable graduate-level or upper-level undergraduate courses in a specialized technical area and/or professional practice area related to civil engineering)
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As of this writing, a working group has completed a draft BOK, noting that completion of the environmental engineering BOK is achieved through a combination of baccalaureate-level work, master's-level work, and professional experience. While the BOK includes the expected focus on engineering technical fundamentals in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, the BOK also takes in conceptual analysis, creative design, sustainability, contemporary and global issues, multidisciplinary teamwork, leadership, and effective communication (AAEE, 2008)
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recommended four courses of action, condensed for this discussion: • The engineering community should adopt and actively promote the positioning statement, and use it as an anchor for all public outreach. • Four messages that evolved from the project -- engineers make a world of difference; engineers are creative problem solvers; engineers help shape the future; and engineering is essential to our health, happiness, and safety -- should be adopted by the engineering community in ongoing and new public outreach activities.
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From page 106... ...
. Table E.2 illustrates three important points: the paucity of high school graduates exposed to potential construction and engineering career paths; the small number of students receptive to and appropriately prepared for careers in engineering; and proof that to attract students to careers in construction and engineering, the construction industry must compete with other fields.
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From page 107... ...
For example, thousands of apprentices and craft students train in more than 20 construction industry crafts through a national ABC network of 78 chapter offices throughout the country. ABC is also involved on college campuses through its ABC Student Chapters Program, a network of more than 50 colleges and universities that offer construction-related degree programs nationwide.
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ASCE notes that the program does more than prompt students to become civil engineers: "These educational outreach programs also build a basic civil engineering knowledge necessary for citizens to make informed decisions on infrastructure issues in their community and world" (ASCE, 2008a)
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CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS With so many pressures facing humankind, the engineering and construction industry's responsibility takes on a new sense of urgency. Required is a systems view of engineering education to clarify the goals of Policy Statement 465, described earlier, and to provide meaning and direction to civil engineering educational reforms.
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, the educational system produces graduates who are educated citizens and engineering professionals. In the future, civil engineering education must serve the ongoing, emerging, and even unexpected needs of stakeholders and clients.
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The engineering profession will not truly be preparing for success until it successfully recruits more underrepresented minorities into engineering and related fields.
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Lenox, Managing Director, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Stuart G Walesh, Ph.D., P.E., engineering consultant and former Dean of the College of Engineering at Valparaiso University.
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2007. Academic Prerequisites for Licensure and Professional Practice, Policy Statement 465.
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2008. Building the 21st Century Workforce: Creating a National Strategy.
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