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Explains the context in which courses aimed at improving problem-solving skills are implemented. Describes the structure and content of courses and evaluates activities designed to develop problem-solving skills, including a discussion of factors affecting students in their ability to perform. (JM)

In this paper the relationship between new technologies and structural changes in society and the economy are discussed. The roles of engineers are described within this revolution of information technology. Through comparing the international patterns of engineering studies, the German model of engineering education is being questioned. It becomes evident that only a consecutive model of higher education studies can be the goal of further university development in Germany. Subsequently, system analysis will be used to draft a new campus structure of the university: the virtual campus consisting of a system of largely independent entities that are linked by different technological and organizational means. Further education needs to be integrated into this virtual campus university. In this way, Germany may serve as an example of how countries around the world are challenged to change fundamentally their educational systems in order to respond to the ongoing revolution in information technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information and communication technologies of today and tomorrow are characterized by: the Internet and its related technological networks; mobile telecommunication systems; video-based multimedia application for communication and information; and speech recognition/automated speech output. They are developing into embedded systems with invisible PC-free interfaces and into new breeds of robots and Multi-Agent Systems. These systems have started to change the technical and organizational structure of all human-machine-systems and their control tasks. In this paper, some aspects of these changes are described in view of the future roles of engineers within society. The paper is based on the memorandum which was drafted by an international expert group to be presented at the Congress on Information and Communication during the First World Engineers' Convention, 19-21 June 2000, Hannover, Germany. Subsequently this memorandum was discussed and agreed on by the participants of the Congress workshops. These participants were several hundred engineers from all over the world. Their ideas and concepts have been integrated into this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, technology design, technology use, and organizational structures in enterprises can no longer be regarded as isolated from each other because they are highly correlated in networks, which become increasingly complex and dynamic. Enterprises must be understood as sociotechnical systems that consist of human and technical subsystems and their relations with each other. They can be analyzed by referring to the concept of self-similarity (or fractals). In (re)designing such systems, modeling and simulation methods are needed. This report describes a method that combines two different simulation methods. They can be integrated to model and simulate complex sociotechnical systems as a whole. The method has been developed by modeling and simulating computer-supported cooperation and communication along the logistic chain in intermodal traffic (train–truck freight transportation). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the personal accounts of three different people on their experiences of developing creativity outside the formal engineering education system. Issue of art in engineering; Examination of whether a computer can be creative; Challenges of being creative as an electrical engineer.

Describes the experiences gained by the engineering undergraduates at the University of Technology in Aachen, Germany through the interdisciplinary, `real-life' study projects or `Studienarbeiten'. Background on the interdisciplinary study projects at Aachen; Some examples of interdisciplinary undergraduate projects; Effectiveness of the project.

During recent years, developments in production seem to have shown a strong orientation toward Finding the best technical solution to a problem. Frequently, there has been little consideration of people concerned. This approach may be called ‘technocentric.’ In contrast to this approach, it may be feasible to look for solutions which balance the advantages of a merely technical solution, and the skills and competencies of people. Systems of this latter kind may be called ‘human-centered.’ Such systems support flexible production processes based on skill-based workplaces and group work, and they are embedded into flat hierarchical structures in industry. They are increasingly considered viable in economic terms. This article discusses the concept of human-centered systems in some detail. It suggests the dual design approach as a tool to design such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a speech by Dietrich P. Brandt delivered at the conference of the Evangelische Akademie in Hofgelsmar, West Germany on May 20, 1960 in which he discussed social security, public welfare, and the welfare state.

Introduces a series of articles related to human factors, ergonomics and sociotechnical systems.

Editorial. Introduces a series of articles on the integration of creativity into engineering education. Relationship between technical knowledge and creativity, on the one hand, and university and industry, on the other; Design and development of different kinds of robots.