A BLUEPRINT FOR IMPLEMENTING GRAND CHALLENGE SCHOLARS’ PROGRAMME: A CASE STUDY OF TAYLOR’S UNIVERSITY

• Main Authors: MUSHTAK AL-ATABI, DOUGLAS TONG KUM TIEN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor's University 2013-04-01
• Series: Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
• Subjects: Grand Challenges for Engineering; CDIO syllabus; National Academy for Engineering
• Online Access: http://jestec.taylors.edu.my/Special%20Issue/10_Paper_80-86.pdf

The National Academy for Engineering announced 14 Grand Challenges for the 21st Century engineers to address in order to ensure a sustainable future for the generations to come. These grand challenges are in four broad areas, namely, energy and environment, health, security and learning and computation. This paper reports on a Grand Challenges Scholars’ Programme that is developed to prepare the engineering students to be able to address the grand challenges using the CDIO framework and focusing on five components; research experience, interdisciplinary curriculum, entrepreneurship, global dimension and service learning. The programme is voluntary and the candidates are expected to commit additional learning time. The programme was launched with 16 participants who are expected to graduate in 2016. A preliminary assessment of the programs shows that the participants found the programme useful in developing an array of CDIO skills. The School intends to continue offering this programme with the intention of integrating it with a holistic education approach.