Monday, December 9, 2019, at 10:30 a.m.
Faculty of Civil Engineering Conference Hall, Building E – Davutpaşa Campus, Y.T.U.
ENGINEERING EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Dr. Tarlochan Sidhu
Dean and Professor
Ontario Tech University, CANADA
Abstract
Engineers have always played a major leadership role in improving human life. This primarily involves imagining, designing, developing, and testing innovative products and systems to meet societal and consumer needs. Engineers are obligated to consider public safety and environmental impacts, in addition to other factors, while designing and building engineering products and systems. Engineers receive formal education and specialize in various fields. As societal needs change and to foster innovation, engineering education has continuously evolved—and with it, the engineers of the future. This talk will explore the future of engineering, the emerging paradigm of engineering education, and the characteristics of future engineers. The discussion will also examine the mechanisms through which the engineering education system in Canada addresses these challenges. Ontario Tech University’s experience in this field will also be highlighted.
Speaker’s Biography
Tarlochan Sidhu received his Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. From July 1990 to June 2002, he was a member of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, where he served as Professor and Chair of the Graduate Program. From 2002 to 2011, he served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. He also held the NSERC/Hydro One Networks Senior Industrial Research Chair in Power Systems Engineering. Effective January 2012, Dr. Sidhu has been serving as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Ontario Tech University in Canada.
Dr. Sidhu is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the *International Journal of Emerging Electric Power Systems*, published by De Gruyter (Germany). He has served as an Editor for *IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery* (2001–2012), a Member of the Editorial Board for *Electric Power Components and Systems* (published by Taylor & Francis), a Member of the Editorial Board for *Electric Power Systems Research* (published by Elsevier), and a Member of the Editorial Board for *IEEE Power Engineering Letters*. Dr. Sidhu is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (U.K.), a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (USA), and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario and a Chartered Engineer in the U.K.