Significance of Lifelong Learning for Engineers
The issue of lifelong learning for engineers has been a topic of concentration for many researchers. This is due to its dominant position in making sure that individuals and countries remain competitive in the face of the accelerating transitions in technology. Moreover, intellectual investment stands out as the backbone of any country’s economy. A need, therefore, arises for the engineers to become lifelong learners to enhance their competitiveness around the globe, become active citizens, and gain social inclusion as well as develop personal skills to fit in the dynamic economy.
By engaging in lifelong learning, engineers are able to improve the quality of their professional life and advance their skills in innovation and invention. Additionally, lifelong learning assists them to constantly go through intellectual regeneration. This is a significant aspect for the engineers to remain relevant in their field (DiDomenico 2). Consequently, this increases their competence and helps them achieve the desirable knowledge base to help them thrive in the stiff competition for employment globally.
In their lifelong learning, engineers acquire personal and professional development. This is a prerequisite that helps them acquire skills that are necessary in developing new projects according to the current trends. Besides, they attain valuable aptitudes that help them overcome the challenges encountered when running the projects. Similarly, they also obtain skills that help them to guarantee sustainability of the environment and ensure public safety. In this venture, Engineers instill public confidence that credits engineering as a respectable profession. Additionally, in their lifelong learning, engineers acquire critical skills that help them to evaluate practicability of various projects, long way before they are installed. This is realized through massive research that helps them to come up with successful projects. Constant professional development is, therefore, a basic requirement for the engineers (Larry, Sacre and McGourty 7).
Additionally, the dynamism of the economy today requires continued learning for all engineers. An engineer must have adequate knowledge to tackle the changing nature of the economy and the requirement of the engineering occupation. DiDomenico found out that today, a worker will have an average of eleven jobs between the ages of 18-42. He also estimated that a worker will stay in his employment for 4.1 years (2). This accounts to the dynamism of engineering profession, a move that calls for lifelong learning. Similarly, the National Academy of Engineering articulated that the economic well being and the vigor of a country does not rely on its natural resources, but on its intellectual investment. Undoubtedly, engineers are the key holders of the intellectual capital of a nation. Lifelong learning of the engineers is, therefore, important as it makes them effective in responding to the volatile changing economy. Moreover, in so doing, the engineers are able to be active citizens and gain social inclusion.
Markedly, engineering is a crucial profession that compels engineers to engage in lifelong learning. Through this process, they are able to acquire new skills to adapt in the ever changing technological trends. This enhances their personal development and employability. Moreover, they remain relevant in their field of expertise through inventions and innovations. Accordingly, they are able to survive in the competitive job market and become an added asset to their countries.
Works Cited
Shuman, Larry J., Mary Besterfield‐Sacre, and Jack McGourty. “The ABET “professional skills”—Can they be taught? Can they be assessed?.” Journal of engineering education 94.1 (2005): 41-55.
National Academy of Engineering. The engineer of 2020: visions of engineering in the new century. National Academy Press, 2004.
Charles, DiDomenico F. Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration American Society for ingineering Education February 3-5. Palm Springs California, 2010.