This document discusses functional engineering education as a tool for sustainable development in developing countries. It argues that functional engineering education produces trained professionals with skills relevant to propelling a nation into a modern state. Such education emphasizes practical and hands-on learning through project-based learning to ensure graduates are employable or able to create employment. It recommends adopting mentorship, collaboration, and project-based learning to make engineering education more practical and beneficial to students and society.

1. FUNCTIONAL ENGINEERING
EDUCATION (FEE), A TOOL
FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
BY
ENGR. NWANKWO I. J &
ENGR NWOKOLO C.P.

2. ABSTRACT
• Education is the irrefutably accepted means for
personal and national development.
• There is the need to improve aspects of mental
and language functioning as well as
vocational/employment and relational or social
skills, with regard to national development.
• There is need to produce, through functional
engineering education, trained manpower who
with commitment and integrity, can carry out
functions that propel the nation into a modern,
globally relevant and viable state.

3. FUNCTIONAL ENGINEERIN
EDUCATION
• Engineering education must be beneficial to
learners and the society.
• The topic which we are exploring is the functional
engineering education as a tool for sustainable
development in developing countries. We have just
stated our position in the paper that functional
engineering education is needed at all time for
personal and national development. This paper will
discuss the commonalities and characteristics
which make functional engineering education
imperative for a developing nation, thereafter an
explanation of functional engineering education
and suggestions on the way forward or possible
implementation strategies.

4. INTRODUCTION
• The purpose of engineering education is to
provide the learning required by students to
become successful engineers—technical
expertise, social awareness, and a bias
toward innovation. This combined set of
knowledge, skills, and attitudes is essential to
strengthening productivity,
entrepreneurship, and excellence in an
environment that is increasingly based on
technologically complex and sustainable
products, processes, and systems.

5. ENGINEERING EDUCATION
• Engineering education integrates engineering
research and education to accelerate technology
and educational innovation and to improve the
quality and diversity of engineering graduates
entering the technical workforce.
• Engineering is the application of scientific
knowledge to solving problem in the real world.
• ENGINEER – CONCIEVE – DESIGN –
IMPLIMENT- OPERATE PRODUCTS-
PROCESSES SYSTEM. Hence need for functional
engineering education.
5

6. What Modern Engineers Do
• Engineers build things that serve society
• To quote Theodore von Kármán “ Scientists
discover the world that exists; engineers create the
world that never Was.
• . Modern engineers are engaged in all phases of
the lifecycle of products, processes and systems
that range from the simple to the incredibly
complex, but all have one feature in common.
They meet a need of a member or members of
society. Good engineers observe and listen
carefully to determine the needs of the member of
society for whom the benefit is intended.

7. FUNCTIONAL EDUCATION
• Functional education is relevant, practical, targeted training given
either in school or non – formal education setting to meet specific
needs of the learner.
• Functional education is relevant to the needs of people. One of the
greatest needs of a developing nation is that education should
guarantee employment.
• many university graduate are either unemployable or unemployed.
Relevant education should help learners to be either employed by
government, organizations or become self employed.
• Functional educational is practical; it adopts hands on approach
(Nebo Chinedu, 2008).. All too often the educational system has
been all theoretical, abstract and based on rote memorization. How
can engineering be taught without exposing student to the practical
aspect? Some schools and students opt for alternative to practical’s
in which they memorize materials and results as performed by
others.

8. FEE
• No matter how educated a person is, that person
must learn how to function proactively in
consonance with the laid down principles, culture
and other workers.
• Functional education must deal with the mindset
so that the graduate of our educational system
can be relevant, a good citizen who is anxious to
embrace development, one with ethical standards.
• Functional education captures the interest of
learners and maps onto their ability level and
special talents.

9. PROJECT BASED LEARNING (PBL)
• PBL is an effective and enjoyable way to learn - and develop deeper learning competencies required for success in
college, career, and civic life.
• PBL makes school more engaging for students.
• PBL makes school more engaging for students. Today’s students, more than ever, often find school to be boring
and meaningless. In PBL, students are active, not passive; a project engages their hearts and minds, and provides
real-world relevance for learning.
• PBL improves learning. After completing a project, students understand content more deeply, remember what
they learn and retain it longer than is often the case with traditional instruction. Because of this, students who
gain content knowledge with PBL are better able to apply what they know and can do to new situations.
• PBL builds success skills for college, career, and life. In the 21st century workplace and in college, success
requires more than basic knowledge and skills. In a project, students learn how to take initiative and
responsibility, build their confidence, solve problems, work in teams, communicate ideas, and manage themselves
more effectively.
• PBL helps address standards. The Common Core and other present-day standards emphasize real-world
application of knowledge and skills, and the development of success skills such as critical thinking/problem
solving, collaboration, communication in a variety of media, and speaking and presentation skills. PBL is an
effective way to meet these goals.
• PBL provides opportunities for students to use technology. Students are familiar with and enjoy using a variety
of tech tools that are a perfect fit with PBL. With technology, teachers and students can not only find resources
and information and create products, but also collaborate more effectively, and connect with experts, partners,
and audiences around the world.
• PBL makes teaching more enjoyable and rewarding. Projects allow teachers to work more closely with active,
engaged students doing high-quality, meaningful work, and in many cases to rediscover the joy of learning
alongside their students.
• PBL connects students and schools with communities and the real world.
• Projects provide students with empowering opportunities to make a difference, by solving real problems and
addressing real issues. Students learn how to interact with adults and organizations, are exposed to workplaces
and adult jobs, and can develop career interests. Parents and community members can be involved in projects.

10. THE WAY FORWARD
RECOMMENDATIONS IN
ENGINEERING EDUCATION:
• Mentorship and collaboration should be adopted in the Education system
• State with mineral resources should give grant to researchers
• (Schools) within their location to tap the resources to meet people need.
• Engineering centers to be built in the regions with rich mineral recourses,
• Introduction of one year training on hand on the tools for engineers after graduation.
• Proper implementation of existing industrial training by undergraduate engineers.
• Improved school environment for higher performance for both teachers and student.(Aronu
Ekene. 2011) for details.
• government should give adequate attention to entrepreneurial development in the country
through the provision of good policy.
• Proper resource inspection and accreditation of our education system by various
• Agent with integrity (void of bribery)
• Workshop by various professional body should focused on mentoring, networking and
collaboration rather than money making venture,
•
• Emphasis should be on acquired skills rather than certificate.
• Project based learning should be adopted by our educational system.
• Adoption of project base learning (PBL).