Education and Training in the Field of Machines and Mechanisms (A Comparative Study)

Machines and mechanisms have always been used as tools to improve both the lives and lifestyles of mankind. Human beings started using them by converting natural resources into various forms and shapes of ancient man-made tools. Similar has been the case with one of the most basic areas of mechanical engineering: machines and mechanisms, a field in which human species invention of the wheel emerged as the foremost and basic entity. As the engineering world progresses the upcoming engineers have to be educated and trained for these latest technological developments and also have to be imparted with more skills in the form of research and development (R D) capability. This paper gives an overview of the educational status and training facilities in the field of ‘machines and mechanism’ in a developing country like Saudi Arabia. The study has revealed that the Kingdom is presently focusing on such areas as mechanics, kinematics, machine design, machine dynamics and theory of machines which are mostly taught in the universities across the Kingdom. The educational and training status of universities in Saudi Arabia compared with those of educationally developed countries like USA in the field of machines and mechanism is discussed. The study revealed that the nature of laboratory based training work, the coverage of the related areas and the methods of teaching these highly technical courses in Saudi universities need to be further improved in order to become comparable to their counterparts in the world. Recently, the Kingdom has initiated work in the field of ‘nano technology’. What would be its impact on the design and development of future curricula pertaining to machines and mechanisms is highlighted. The paper concludes with certain recommendations that can help policy planners in the field of engineering education, in general, and machines and mechanisms, in particular for the successful future of developing nations to keep pace with the latestinnovations.