Bridging The Gap Between Engineers And Technicians

Workplace contention between those trained in the engineering profession and those with associate degrees (two or three years) in technology is commonly observed. The issues are generally created by pride and misunderstanding. Improved communication would be an obvious approach to mitigating the contention. Further questions are how much of this contention and concern may be fostered initially in the academic setting, and how much might be mitigated by efforts during the student’s education program? To explore these issues a one-and-a-half day symposium was held in April 1998 at Idaho State University (ISU), co-sponsored by Boise State University and Ricks College. Approximately 100 attendees from throughout the nation presented papers and engaged in discussion of example efforts to improve or develop successful symbiotic relationships between engineering professionals and technicians. Both academic and industrial leaders participated.