New partnerships in bioengineering education and research at the NSF

The world of the 21st century will be swifter, more complex, and more connected. Solutions to tomorrow´s problems will require the contributions of many disciplines and points of view. There will be tremendous challenges and opportunities for engineers-all engineers-but especially those in the field of bioengineering. Consider the problem the nation now faces with respect to the health care system. Engineers can and must be part of the solution-but to be successful in this dynamic environment, engineering graduates will need more than first-rate technical skills. They must also be able to work in teams and communicate well. Equally important, they must be able to view their work from a systems approach-across disciplines-and within the context of ethical, political, international, environmental, and economic considerations. It is time that one addresses the adequacy of engineering education to meet these demands. To educate such graduates, engineering colleges must develop and strengthen partnerships with industry, government and the broader educational community. University leaders must provide vision and support for these efforts. Likewise, industry must become more involved in the education of their current and future engineers. NSF is and will continue to do its part to encourage partnerships and foster educational experimentation and innovation at every level. In sum, partnerships are the key to ensuring U.S. engineering education is relevant, attractive and connected to its clients and stakeholders and to the nation at large.<>