The impact of a knowledge-based economy on engineering education

Engineering educators should adjust their teaching methodologies to the economic environment. In Taiwan, the economy has changed from being agricultural-oriented to industrial-oriented and is now shifting into being a knowledge-based economy. Manufacturing has changed from depending on the techniques of handicraft to mass production by automation to innovalue products, which is affordable access to Taiwanese high technology products by consumers around the world. Against such a background, it is important to emphasis that the Taiwanese education system, particularly in engineering education, not only produces talented people who generate ideas, but also skilled individuals who can turn their ideas into commercial realities and knowledge-acquired oriented to keep the pace of the rapid changing environment. Accordingly, this research focuses on an assessment in analysing how to adjust the curricula and teaching methodologies in engineering education against the impact of a knowledge-based economy in order to foster intellectuals that can spawn innovation and competence in the new era.