Trends in chemical engineering education in Eastern Europe based on polish experience
Special Symposium - Education
The Future of European Chemical Engineering Education in a Globalized World
Keywords: chemical engineering education, Bologna recommendations, Easter Europe
In 2005 I was asked by the Minister of National Education and Sport of the Republic of Poland to prepare a draft of new Education Standards for Chemical and Process Engineering. The new standards (or core Chemical Engineering curricula ) are now ready; they are based to some extent on old standards and they include main ideas of EFCE Bologna Recommendations for Chemical Engineering Education in a Two Cycle Degree System, covering relevant learning outcomes based on general chemical engineering skills, transferable skills and the learning outcomes. The new standards are not just a compromise between old and new ideas; however, it can be shown that several older teaching ideas can be transformed to the new Chemical Engineering curricula. In the first part of presentation this transformation is presented, practical implications for education in several polish institutions of higher learning in Chemical Engineering are reported, and compared with experiences of other Eastern Europe countries.
Next problem that is discussed is related to continuous tuning of Chemical Engineering curricula in a response to changes in a job market and appearing new paradigms and new-area emergence that are often experienced by young people as the current fashions. This is most often done by introducing Chemical Engineering specialities (like Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Protection etc.) in a second cycle degree study or equivalent. This problem is discussed in the context of several significant changes of the chemical engineering profession observed in Eastern Europe over the last 50 years.
Spreading of methods developed in Chemical Engineering to other disciplines as well as new opportunities for chemical engineers, which results in increasing number of graduates moving to non-traditional areas.
Finally an important social problem of emigration of Chemical Engineering graduates to old European Union countries is presented in relation to education and job opportunities.
Presented Tuesday 18, 14:50 to 15:15, in session The Future of European Chemical Engineering Education in a Globalized World - III.
