A DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMS FOR EGYPT

The aim of this study has been to identify desirable criteria for the purpose of developing a new education plan that may improve mechanical engineering education in Egypt. Engineering education is an especially crucial problem in Egypt at present in light of the criticism that engineering programs offered at Egyptian engineering schools seem inappropriate to provide qualified engineers able to carry out their responsibilities in developing and accelerating the national industrial plans.;In Egypt the quantitative shortages of engineers are almost overtaken, but there are serious problems concerning the quality of the education provided. The basic scientific content is inadequate, the engineering content is too theoretical in approach, the methodology used may impede initiative and creativity, and the graduates emerge quite unprepared for the task required from them as professional engineers.;The investigation was addressed to the problem of formulating a plan aimed to accomplish specific goals: (1) prepare engineers with adequate training in the areas of manufacturing, production planning, and industrial administration and management; (2) prepare design engineers equipped with creative ability in building machines to reduce the country's full dependence on imported machinery; and (3) build a new era in the field of research, long ago totally neglected, by preparing science engineers with special training in research techniques.;Three steps were taken in developing the new plan. First, a comprehensive review was made of the professional literature pertaining to engineering education. This was done around three areas: (1) goals of engineering education; (2) the education of mechanical engineers; and (3) the structure of engineering education.;Second, the insight and knowledge gained from the literature were used as a guide in developing the new plan. This was done through a research instrument constructed in the form of a questionnaire that includes selected criteria recommended as most likely to improve mechanical engineering education. The criteria as classified in the questionnaire was selected in the areas: (1) philosophy and objectives; (2) major engineering activities; (3) types of engineering programs; (4) program contents; (5) instructional practice; (6) continuing education; (7) teaching staff training; (8) roles of engineering societies and industry; and (9) social and human sciences in engineering education. The instrument was utilized in investigating the perceptions of 40 Egyptian engineering staff members in terms of appropriateness and effectiveness of the selected criteria that may be used in developing a new mechanical engineering program for Egypt.;Finally, a plan outlining a new educational structure was developed. The plan was based on the desirable criteria which were found significant and responsive to the major areas of engineering activities. The plan was identified by two stages. First stage is for two years and provides a common program for all mechanical engineering students. The program is based on general science and general engineering fundamentals. The second stage is for three years. Students in this stage would be directed into three educational streams: (1) industrial engineering stream; (2) engineering design stream; and (3) engineering science stream. Student's distribution in these streams would be made with regard to student's ability of creativity, synthesis, and analytical skills.