Nowadays, we see engineers everywhere. They are building skyscrapers on the construction sites; they are manufacturing cars and computers in the factories; they are doing experiments for newly invented drugs in the labs; further more they are making significant management decisions behind directng boards. Engineers are so important that we can say for sure that without them, our society will not operate well. Concerning this , people may ask: how can we become qualified engineers?
Accordng to Professor Ramakrishna, an engineer is able to systemetically analyze complex information and apply a holistic approach in designing solutions. To accomplish this goal, I think engineers should have enough technical knowledge, experience and practical skills as well as a good understanding of what is going on in the outside world.
Firstly, technical knowledge and professional training are essential for engineers. Engineering is a profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences is applied to solve problems. Therefore, fundermental subjects like maths and physics are especially important for engineering students. Besides the baisic ones, higher level courses enable engineers to develop their ideas. There is no doubt that specialist knowledge is the base for analyzing problems and providing solutions.
Secondly, action speaks louder than one thousand words. Knowledge is useless unless people put it into practice. Thus, qualified engineers recquire real world experience and practical skills. Engineers are not scientists who devote all their lives to researches and labs. They have to deal with money and people. They have to consider how things can be done in the most effective way. They have to solve very complex problems logically and systemetcally. All these skills cannot be gained in one semester. Neither can we learn these from our lecturors or books. As for engineers, maybe the best lesson we can get is from the real world.
Lastly, engineers should keep pace with outside world. With enough domain knowledge and practical skills, engineers' work can also out of date. To analyze complex information and apply a holistic approach in designing solutions, engineers need to broaden their horizons and concide their work with the leading trend of the society. One century ago, engineers mainly refered to civil engineers are busy building bridges and railways. Five decades ago, computer engineering is still new to most people. Nowadays, biomedicine, quality engineering and etc. are all frontier fields where engineers work on. To be a good engineer, it is necessary to keep yourselve up to date, especially in the times when the world is changing so rapidly like now.
Being engineering students, we should cherish the time we spend in university and learn enough knowledge to prepare ourselves for future career. Further more, we should grab every chance in which we can put what we have learnt into practice. Today's expanding world brings engineers more oppprtunities as well as challenges and we are ready!
