Incorporating Standards Into Engineering And Engineering Technology Curricula: It's A Matter Of Public Policy

Standards are those rarely noticed background rules and procedures which make products and processes successfully function in society. Standards can be technical, procedural or societal, and affect everything from automobiles, to accounting practices, to much of what we carry in our pockets or purses, to the way we read this electronic page. Standards are so pervasive that during our daily routine we may interact hundreds of times with products of standardization. Still, as important as standards are, the topic is often approached with as much enthusiasm as that of watching grass grow. Worse, knowledge of standards, their use and development may actually be completely overlooked throughout the educational process. Why does this disinterest exist? How can it be remedied? ABET (the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) for one, has begun the process in establishing basic requirements for standards education spanning both engineering and engineering technology. This paper discusses how such criteria can be addressed and standards incorporated into classrooms and across disciplines, to help battle disinterest and graduates’ dearth of standards knowledge. It includes educational techniques, strategies and sources of case studies that may be directly employed in classrooms. It goes further in offering insight into the standards development process and the rationale for involvement. It also touches on future trends in standards development. Involvement in the process can further individual professional development, as well as helping establish valuable contacts with industry and standards leaders, both nationally and internationally.