Framework for integrating project-based learning, experience and practice in professional graduate education for engineering leaders in industry leading to the professional engineering doctorate and fellow levels

This is the third of four papers prepared for a special panel session of the National Collaborative Task Force on Engineering Graduate Education Reform. The paper formulates a very creative approach and framework for postgraduate professional education that fosters the continuous development of the U.S. engineering workforce in industry concurrently with engineering practice for technological innovation. The framework integrates innovative project-based learning, progressive experience, self-directed learning, and graduate studies concurrently with engineering practice. The framework is specifically designed to foster growth beyond the professional master's level, leading to the professional Doctor of Engineering and Engineering Fellow for senior career development of engineering leaders. The intent is to build clusters of postgraduate professional education across the country in partnership with industry that strengthens U.S. innovative capability for continuous technology development and competitiveness.