Abstract
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is poised to undergo tremendous industrial development on the way to diversify its economy and become less dependent on oil and gas revenues. Industrial development has always been linked to the ingenuity and innovation of engineering minds. In this chapter, we examine engineering education in the MENA region from the perspective of a large industrial organization that has been depending on engineers, training them and developing them for more than 30 years. The critical engineering skills required by industry are discussed and the role of engineering education in helping industry succeed is emphasized. Close collaboration between industry and engineering schools is very important in order to ensure that students are well prepared to join the workforce and contribute to solving industry’s and society’s problems. This collaboration should focus not only on technical abilities but also on developing soft skills. Critical thinking and problem solving stand out as leading skills that are highly required for engineering graduates to succeed in industry. These skills also need more attention from engineering programs in the region in order to prepare the professional engineers needed by industry. Other important aspects of engineering education in the region include the role of internships, research and innovation, and the critical importance of integrating safety into engineering education.
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Notes
- 1.
Official IMF data 2012.
- 2.
Battelle R&D Magazine, 2014.
- 3.
Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO) was established in 1974 and started production of polyethylene in 1981 as the first plant of its kind in the region.
- 4.
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), 2010 report.
- 5.
QAPCO Sustainability Report, 2013.
- 6.
This ambitious plan to diversify the economy and grow the petrochemical sector is led by the Ministry of Energy and Industry of the State of Qatar.
- 7.
Information on QNV 2030 can be found at the following link:
- 8.
Note: Chemicals excluding pharmaceuticals, Source: CEFIC, 2013.
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Acknowledgments
The author is grateful to QAPCO management for their support in completing this work. Special thanks to Dr. Mohamed Yousuf Al-Mulla (VC and CEO), Mr. Yousuf Rebeeh (COO), Mr. Abdulla Naji (learning and development manager), and Mr. Ahmad Yaseen (PR manager) for their input and support.
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Ouederni, M. (2016). Engineering Education in the Middle East and North Africa: An Industry Perspective. In: Abdulwahed, M., Hasna, M., Froyd, J. (eds) Advances in Engineering Education in the Middle East and North Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15323-0_18
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