The technology world is changing rapidly - Can higher education match the pace?

New electronics technology has been the driver for huge changes in all sectors of business over the past three decades. As more functions have been integrated on silicon, the amount of component-level design, assembly and test has decreased and with it the need for large numbers of engineers and technicians with these manual skills. Instead, low-cost assemblies are now produced in relatively few locations but they feed a rapidly developing global market for electronic systems applications. The paper considers the new skills that the higher educational system has to deliver for future jobs. The changes impact all engineering education sectors but the two-year schools are in the front line. A new NSF-funded program has been launched to address the issues.