Engineering and Design: Most Central Knowledge in Architecture and Engineering Jobs

Abstract

Rapid changes in the worldwide engineering enterprise are creating a compelling rationale to rethink how future generations of engineers should be educated. In this paper, we identify the most central knowledge in engineering and architecture jobs by analyzing the characteristics of the weighted jobs–knowledge network for all occupations in the Architecture and Engineering job family of the O*NET (Occupational Information Network) system. Engineering and design constitute the most central knowledge. Strengthening education in the identified central knowledge themes can lead to better transport of knowledge to engineering jobs to address the challenges of the 21st century.