The need for CDIO
Throughout much of the 20th century, engineering education programs offered students lots of hands-on practice. Courses were taught by practicing engineers and focused on solving tangible problems. But, as scientific and technical knowledge expanded rapidly during the latter 1900s, engineering education evolved into the teaching of engineering science and de-emphasized engineering practice.

In recent years, industry began to find that graduating students, while technically adept, lacked many abilities required in real world engineering situations. Major companies created lists of abilities they wanted their engineers to possess (e.g. Boeing's Desired Attributes of an Engineer). To encourage schools to meet real world needs and rethink their educational strategies, the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology listed its expectations for graduating engineers. Industry and the accreditation board had identified the destination; now it was up to educators to plan the route. Faced with the gap between scientific and practical engineering demands, we took up the challenge to reform engineering education. The result of our endeavor is the CDIO Initiative.

So, tell me, how did you create CDIO? Next>