TEACHING  ENGINEERING SCIENCE OR  DESIGN A REFLECTION ON ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN IRAN

A review of the structure and content of engineering curricula in Iran reveals the fact that Engineering Education is focused on delivering ‘engineering science’, as distinct from ‘engineering design’. Even the few non-theoretical curriculum components are mostly laboratory-based, which basically serve to complement the scientific content.Reflecting on the implications of the above fact, this article puts forward a plea for a shift in educational approach within engineering disciplines to corroborate the following Design is believed to be, by definition, the art of creating necessary changes in the environment, in response to the human needs. With this definition in mind, the ‘design’ approach of Engineering Education will develop a due consideration for the human factor which leads to the incorporation of properties such as quality, beauty and meaning within the process of engineering practice.