Integral Formation for the Engineering for Peace from a Systemic and Interdisciplinary Perspective

Abstract

Purpose: the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of South Florida (USF), the Ibero-American Science & Technology Education Consortium (ISTEC) and the Complex Systems and Education (SCED), under the R&D ISTEC initiative, have developed a comprehensive electrical engineer formation model based on the Adaptive Complex Systems approach that responds to the challenges of the contemporary society (presented at WEEF 2012). The purpose of this paper is to show an application reference of the model in the development of ethical competences in the formation of the engineer for peace from a systemic and trans-disciplinary approach, integrating academia, industry and the community. Method: a sequence of three progressive levels of one credit-hour courses for the Professional Formation of the Engineer (PRF) that integrate ethical competences focused on the being, the knowledge and the know-how. It includes individual and team work, resolution of case studies, simulations, ethics presentations, ethical practices, proposals writing, visits to industry and networking with successful industry professionals. Results: graduates linked to the newly created True-Partner Network demonstrate their behavior integrity, responsibility, ability to interact respectfully with others and accepting differences in favor of general interests. Conclusion: the ethical values of peace engineer must be formed through a systematic inter/multi/trans-disciplinary pedagogical approach connected to the labor sector throughout the Bachelor's program.