About the study

The Global State of the Art in Engineering Education study explored cutting-edge practice in undergraduate engineering education worldwide and the trends likely to shape its future. Commissioned by MIT, the study drew on interviews with 178 individuals from 18 countries.

The study identified universities regarded as the 'current leaders' and ‘emerging leaders’ in engineering education, and explored the characteristics that distinguished their approaches. 

Looking to the future, the study identified three defining trends:

1. A shift in the global axis of engineering education leadership, from north to south and from high-income countries towards emerging economic ‘powerhouses’ in Asia and South America.
2. A move towards socially-relevant and outward-facing curricula, integrating student choice, multidisciplinary learning, societal impact and experiences beyond the classroom. Rather than these being ‘bolt-on’ activities, emerging leaders were integrating them across the curriculum and connecting them with students’ wider learning.
3. The emergence of a new generation of leaders able to deliver integrated, student-centred education at scale, combining project-based, experiential learning with more a flexible and personalised approach.