Some needed improvements in engineering education: A noted industrialist∗ points out some of the shortcomings of our present system of engineering education and suggests some needed improvements

THERE are at least five different features in our present-day technical education which are justly subject to criticism: (1) trend toward specialization in undergraduates courses; (2) lack of proper standards of selection of students to be admitted to engineering courses; (3) failure to develop in the student the habit of thorough understanding of subject matter and processes; (4) insufficient emphasis placed on development of student personality; (5) examinations and student grading which are not the true test of student ability desired by the employer. These, of course, do not each apply equally to all institutions, but can be accepted as fair criticism of the average institution.