The role of consulting engineers in engineering education

The application of the knowledge gained by students to the solution of problems in the real world is significantly affected and influenced by factors that are not covered in traditional engineering education curricula. Professional ethics, business development, contract formation, business economics, legal obligations, risk management, insurance requirements, dispute resolution procedures, project management, personnel management, and quality management are just a few of the factors which can significantly influence the way engineering services are delivered. Consulting engineers in practice are most familiar with these factors and the ways in which they influence engineering service delivery. In order to provide students with a well-rounded engineering education and for them to understand the framework within which their talents must be applied to the solution of engineering problems, it is meaningful and important to facilitate programs which discuss the implications of these nontechnical factors on the delivery of engineering services at the graduate and undergraduate level. The Institute for Professional Practice (IPP) is a nonprofit educational organization, founded by practitioners, to provide educational services focused on the non-technical issues affecting the delivery of engineering services. The Institute's ''Issues in Professional Practice'' course is used in over 150 engineering programs in the United States. This paper will describe the program as it is structured in one university engineering program in a way that capitalizes on the resources of IPP and local practicing engineers.