Testimonials from Engineering Cultures Students
"Engineering Cultures™ was very informative. Never did I expect to learn so much about others, my position in the world, and myself. As a result of this course, I know that the world appreciates me for the education and qualities that I possess as well as the perspectives that I bring." (Computer Engineering Student)
"Engineering Cultures™ has opened my eyes to the world. Before I took this course, I was one-dimensional; I did not consider other viewpoints when examining a solution. I was also one-dimensional in the sense that I had never been exposed to engineering in other cultures and countries. I knew nothing about engineering in Japan, the USSR, France, Korea or any of the other countries I have studied throughout the course. The only perspective I knew was the US perspective. Because of my newfound knowledge about engineering throughout the world, I have gained a broader appreciation for the engineering discipline and a better understanding of my relationship to the engineering world." (Computer Engineering Student)
"Probably the most significant part of this class, at least for me, was learning about other engineering cultures and their influence on our own. I know that this is basically the entire subject of this class, but I really feel that being exposed to the differences helped me to define my own cultures more realistically. I now have a realization and better understanding of my own prejudices as well as reasons why they may have developed. Not only have I been able to identify them, I have noticed how they are only a burden and just cloud my better judgement. In the same context, I have gained an appreciation for the effort required of those who receive the effects of everyone's prejudices, including my own. This has definitely provided me with a deeper understanding of myself and the societies in which I must work and live." (General Engineering Student)
"I can honestly say that [this course] has changed my life. . . . If people did not see things my way then they were simply wrong. I never gave people the chance to state their opinion and, if they did, I would not listen. I like to think that this is quite the opposite of how I now react. I was taught that trying at least to understand someone's background/upbringing produces a much more meaningful and deeper relationships with that person. Doing so opens doors to other views and alternative ways to think. It [produces] a more comfortable and accepting atmosphere. If nothing else, it allows me to be more fun to hang out with." (Electrical engineering Student)
"I now realize how much of a role I, as an engineer, play in today's society. Until now, I have always thought of an engineer as someone who does computations all day in their little cubicle. Little did I realize that engineers are a window into a country's culture, history and society in general. Modern engineering is a result of past experiences and events." (Mechanical Engineering Student)
"I realized that engineering encompasses may more fields than just math and science. Engineering encompasses fields such as communications, English and history... I also didn't realize that engineering was more than just number crunching, that in fact, sometimes the most important part was figuring out what the problem is to begin with." (University Studies Student)
"Finally, and most importantly to me, I learned a very important lesson that many engineers take years to fully comprehend. Engineers must take into account and put into their designs other aspects than the usual engineering areas. Just building the most structurally sound or highest quality or most productive ...whatever... means nothing if in the end it is not also the best economical, environmental, political ... solution to the problem at hand." (Chemical Engineering Student)
"I used to think that because I have traveled and seen different places in the world, that I had a good basis for understanding all people of the world. Now I realize that my basis for understanding other people was based on my own life experiences. Because I was ignorant of the history, traditions and beliefs of other countries, I lacked the ability to truly understand their people. Where did this person come from? What are the restraints of this person's culture? What educational opportunities are presented to this person? What important issues does their society focus on? In asking these questions about a person of a different culture, you gain an understanding about the experiences that makes the person. From this course, I learned an approach for viewing people of different nationalities. Who a person is cannot be judged from American standards. Each person is formed from their own cultural experiences." (General Engineering Student)
"Upon entering into this class I had the misconception that we were primarily going to cover the historical development of the engineering profession from an entirely factual view. This indeed was a short sighted view on my part. We did study the development of engineering. But rather than dwelling on the precise dates and events from an entirely chronological development of engineering, we employed this information into the compiling of a coherent and reasonable explanation for the birth of the engineering profession in the Untied States, Russia, Japan, Great Britain, France, Korea as well as several other countries. By following this path, it allowed us to view the different engineering communities and the ways in which their development was influenced by the contributions from other engineering cultures. We were also able to gain a better understanding of the reasons behind the images which are being generated by engineers at home and abroad in today's society." (Computer Science Student)
"This course has helped me to realize several important aspects of my engineering life. I now have a basic understanding as to my decision to become an engineer. This point was brought to my attention when we studied the development of the civil engineering profession in the Untied States. The author of the story about Claudius Crozet made obvious some images which I had been unable to discover until this time. More importantly, I feel that with this new knowledge, I can be much more tolerant of cultural differences, not only in the professional area, but in my private life as well." (General Engineering Student)
" Because of what I have learned, I feel this course has been extremely beneficial to me. I am now aware of how engineering is viewed in many different countries and how these different viewpoints are related to an individual country's cultural traditions. I also have learned that in solving problems, if I define a problem in my own terms, then I have probably discounted an important viewpoint. Thus I need to consider the viewpoints of others before arriving at a solution. Finally, I am now aware of the reasons for the changes in the undergraduate curriculum currently in place in the Untidy States and that I am directly affected by these changes. In order to compete in a global economy, engineers, including myself must become more flexible, analytical, and creative in solving problems. By combining what I have learned in this class along with my other engineering classes, I believe that I will acquire all the necessary skills to be a successful, multi-dimensional engineer in the twenty-first century." (Computer Engineering Student)
"My view of the world is much different than it was before "Engineering Cultures™." This class has given me knowledge that will help me throughout my career. At home, I will be able to see the motivations of "culture experts". I now see some of the implications of a strong corporate culture and why some people may not want to be a part of an organization that takes from your individuality. As the world turns into a "global marketplace," the need for people who can deal effectively with people from different cultures is greater than ever. "Engineering Cultures" has given me the background I will need to help me deal successfully with people throughout my career. This was done by studying the history of engineering in different countries, and the impacts of religion, colonial relationships, styles of government, and culture on that history." (Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Student)
"I have also learned that images count, and that each opinion reveals something, but at the same time probably hides something else. For example, this is evident in the image of corporate culture and the reality that is sometimes quite different. It also explains the attitudes and stereotypes about a country and the history and culture that make that country unique. This knowledge helps an engineer, such as myself, not to see one side as right or wrong, but to learn to look for a deeper meaning and an explanation before accepting an image. It also helps me to see that problems have a human dimension and that the way an engineer defines a problem has political dimensions because not everyone will define the problem the same way." (Engineering Science and Mechanics Student)
| Questions or comments? View Contact Info or e-mail downeyg@vt.edu. |
Modified
6/27/01
|