Meeting the knowledge demands of the new economy: From recognising existent problems to discovering emergent and potential ones

To meet the demands of the post-industrial society, many educators have considered the necessity of enhancing students' problem-finding ability. This implies an ability not only to recognise existent problems, but also to discover emergent and potential problems. Through the review of a case providing an opportunity for engineering students to study a design subject in Hong Kong, this paper first argues that, in order to meet the new needs of a society in which employers expect their employees (not only senior staff members but also junior ones) to provide more creative ideas on product direction and development, students should be given more opportunity to discover emergent and potential problems. It also discusses the benefits and difficulties involved in allowing students this kind of opportunity.