Feeding our profession [power engineering education]

Power engineering education feeds the power engineering profession. If the profession is to continue to be a vital part of electrical engineering, something must be done about the educational stem. In some sense, power education is at a crossroads, and there is a need to take a positive growth path by moving the most pressing and difficult problems in power engineering to a viable high-tech power program. Such an educational program must center on systems, new materials, applications of advanced mathematics and physics, and the integration of economic principles. One potential avenue is to appeal to national governments worldwide to support power engineering research through university-based centers. An upsurge in student interest at the undergraduate level and the importance and complexity of typical power engineering problems are indicative of positive growth in the field; however, vigilance and increased industry participation in all educational sectors are needed to ensure vitality of the field. This article discusses various aspects of power engineering education including the power engineering curriculum, supply and demand for education, faculty careers, and alternative strategies for power engineering education.