Abstract:
Mechanical Engineering Education has undergone major changes during
the last few decades in most countries throughout the world but
particularly so in the US and Europe. These include: the strong emphasis
on engineering design, integrated throughout the curriculum; the need to
connect and integrate contiguous ME disciplines together to form a more
robust engineering science foundation; and the critical role that a senior
level “capstone” product realization course should play in broadening
students' understanding of engineering practice. There is also strong
support for increasing emphasis on “active learning" where students
participate more directly in the learning process and the important role
played by “cooperative education" as referred to, in the US. It is important
for Mechanical Engineering departments in Sri Lanka to take a closer look
at these changes, and adapt them to enhance their own curricula by
carefully noticing that what is best for other countries may not be the best
for Sri Lanka.
