Globalization and the New Challenges for Construction Engineering Education

The world has been transformed in past decades by a phenomenon affecting us all, what we call globalization. Globalization brought a critical inquiry into the shifting ground of ethical thought in the changing climate of the global economy. The need to educate engineering students on how to work in a globalized economy is well recognized within the engineering education community worldwide. The United States, however, is tardy in the acceptance of globalization. The U.S. construction industry has been slow to recognize the effects of globalization and many construction programs at universities across the United States are hindered as a result. If education is behind the current industry, in incorporating courses that adequately prepare students to compete and work in the global work place, their value as engineers is diminished. The construction industry is unique in that design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment on a global level requires not only technical information but also requires knowledge of local, regional, international codes and business culture. It is imperative that global aspects of construction, including ethical and cultural characteristics, are incorporated in the education and training process of construction engineers so that they are better prepared for their practice and are globally competent. This paper will discuss existing current Global Construction Programs and courses and also will provide a hypothetical and specific framework of incorporating global course content of construction in construction engineering education that will empower students in a global market. As a result, future engineers will have utilized proper educational resources in order to better serve the field of construction on a global level. This allows students to become a more valuable commodity to seeking employers.