Crisis and catalyst: The impact of COVID-19 on global practice in engineering education

Abstract

Informed by the perspectives and experiences of the global engineering education community, the Crisis and Catalyst report takes stock of the sector-wide impact of COVID-19 emergency teaching. It addresses two central questions: 1. What were the experiences of the engineering education community during emergency teaching? 2. How will this systemic shock impact the direction of travel for the global sector beyond emergency teaching? The study draws on interviews with university leaders, engineering instructors/faculty, educational specialists and engineering students from across 36 countries. Their feedback overall suggests that, while emergency teaching has undoubtedly been a period of crisis – exposing and exacerbating major challenges facing engineering education – it will also act as a catalyst for a new generation of leading engineering programmes in which the opportunities, learning and wellbeing of students are placed at the forefront. While the report focuses on the experiences and priorities of the engineering education community, the findings have wider applicability across the higher education sector.

Further information on the study is given at the CEEDA website (https://www.ceeda.org/).