Recent curriculum changes at the University of Adelaide - Broadening perceptions of Chemical Engineering

Abstract

It is our experience that high school students, their parents, and indeed the general public, have only vague perceptions of Chemical Engineers and the diverse range of industries in which we participate. This is compounded by the discipline currently undergoing a world-wide shift in emphasis towards the manufacture of higher value-added materials. This shift is more profound than simply a change from commodities to specialties; it is a move away from materials sold according to their purity, to materials sold for their performance behaviour. The University of Adelaide has introduced a range of new degree streams to meet the changing needs of industry and students. These new streams: BE Chem (Energy & Environment); BE Chem (Process & Product Engineering); and BE Chem (Food, Wine & Biomolecular) are choices offered as part of the Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) degree. These streams will add specific new skills to a common foundation of Chemical Engineering fundamentals, while also focusing on applications in those areas relevant to a student’s particular interest. In contrast to the popular “Double-degree” programs, these new degree streams offer flexibility and specialisation within a single 4-year Chemical Engineering degree. Thus students save time and money, which is an important incentive for international students. An added advantage of our strategy is that the marketing of these degree programs to high school students immediately broadens their concept of Chemical Engineering from the narrowest possible, and disturbingly common, association of “chemicals” to include the other more favorable associations (eg. environment, biomolecular, etc) encompassed within the titles of the new degree streams. This paper outlines recent changes introduced to the Chemical Engineering syllabus at the University of Adelaide. The paper also discusses our current Outreach program, the impact of these curriculum changes and other ongoing initiatives in this area.