Supplementary reading

Text C

IX. Reading

Exercise. 18. Read the text C and choose the title to it:

Development of Engineering

Science and Engineering

Engineering Specialties

One result of the rapid expansion of scientific knowledge was an increase in the number of engineering specialties. By the end of the nineteenth century not only were mechanical, civil, and mining and metallurgical engineering established but the newer specialties of chemical and electrical engineering also emerged. This growth in the number of specialties is continuing with the establishment of such disciplines as aerospace, nuclear, petroleum, and electronic engineering. Many of these are subdivisions of earlier specialties — for example, electronic from
electrical engineering or petroleum from chemical. Within the field of mechanical engineering the major subdivision is industrial engineering which is concerned with complete mechanical systems for industry rather than individual machines.

Engineers design and make machines, equipment and the like. Such work requires creative ability and a working knowledge of scientific principles. The engineer must also have an understanding of the various processes and materials available to him/her and could be working in any of the following areas: the organization of manufacture, research and development, design, construction, sales and education.

Because of the large number of engineering fields today there are often many different kinds of engineers working on large projects such as the development of nuclear power or new aircraft. In the design of a new aircraft mechanical engineers work not only on the plane's engines but on other mechanical aspects such as the braking system. When the aircraft goes into production mechanical and industrial engineers are involved in designing the machines necessary to fabricate the different parts as well as the entire system for assembling them. In both phases of such a project mechanical engineers work with specialists in fields such as aerospace and electronic engineering. Each engineer is a member of a team often headed by a systems engineer able to combine the contributions made by all the different disciplines.

Another result of the increase of scientific knowledge is that engineering has become a profession. A profession is an occupation like law or medicine that requires specialized advanced education. Today it requires at least four or five years of university study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. More and more often engineers, especially those engaged in research, get an advanced master’s or doctor’s degree. Even those engineers who do not study for advanced degrees must keep up with changes in their profession. A mechanical engineer who does not know about new materials cannot successfully complete with one who does.

Exercise 19. Read the text D and say what problems are mentioned in the text:

EDUCATING TOMORROW’S ENGINEERS

Engineering education developed very differently on the Continent and in the UK. On the Continent, engineering and technical sciences were set up in technical universities, while in the UK engineering departments were set up in multi-discipline universities. As a consequence, engineering education developed on the Continent as a more professionally oriented subject, while in the UK the emphasis was on engineering science. Perhaps because of their size and their more professional engineering-oriented courses the Continental technical universities have developed a much closer relationship with industry. In Germany, the Herr Professor is also likely to be a Herr Director and there are many visiting industrial professors, who will spend a day a week in the University. In France much of the lecturing is provided by staff from the appropriate industries. There is nothing similar in UK engineering departments.

The question is what is to be done about engineering education in the UK? In the opinion of Britain's specialists, 70 to 80 engineering faculties in English universities and polytechnics should be condensed down into 20 or so major technical universities. They should become more industrially-oriented.

Lastly, the objective of engineering education and training should be recognized. So what should be the objective of undergraduate education? It is to educate and train people to think and search out knowledge for themselves, and to have the self-assurance to apply it to the job in hand. Many of the courses are now much too intensive and students have too little time or encouragement, to read and think for themselves. The solution is to recognize that it is impossible to cover all the subjects which an engineer may find useful in a lifetime, and realize that if he has been correctly educated he can read up on subjects which he may need as he
progresses in his career.

However, industry must recognize that a graduate will need training in the specific area in which he is working, and must also be prepared to encourage him to attend continuing education courses and/or seminars and conferences as appropriate. It is clear that there is to be much more interchange of staff between industry and higher education.

The education and training of engineers must be a partnership between industry and higher education, which extends from undergraduate education and training through to post-graduate short and long courses and research.

Read the texts and translate them in writing. Use a dictionary.

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