Computer System Support for Higher Education Programs in Engineering

Unique affect of computer and information technology development on education in engineering is that both higher education courses and product development environments can utilize high performance methods, tools, and systems. Product development relies upon sophisticated product description and simulations. At the same time, education of engineers involves teaching competences those are also applied in product modeling and simulation. It is evident, that connection of computer systems in product development and higher education could bring a real integration of academic system with field practice. A former result in computer modeling of higher education courses was analyzed by the authors regarding issues for application at the every day practice of engineering education. This paper introduces new results in possibilities for the support of higher education programs considering recent advances in higher education and engineering modeling processes. Paper starts with an outline of supports for education programs in a computer system. Following this, teaching, projects, and problem solving are discussed in education program. Next, course description, elements of higher education process, and main connections of industrial instruction are explained in a practice oriented context. Finally, integrating product modeling with course modeling is sketched and concluded.