Mind The Gap! Students, Society and the Future of Engineering
Abstract
Engineering education faces increasing pressure to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. There is a growing recognition that curricula must better reflect both societal needs and industry expectations. This workshop, titled "Mind the gap! Students, society & the future of engineering," aims to explore how student perspectives and societal relevance can shape more responsive and responsible engineering education. Participants engage in a series of interactive activities designed to identify and discuss the "gaps" between current education systems and the evolving demands of society and the professional world. Through collaborative reflection and small group work, key themes will emerge. The workshop also highlights the role of student organisations, such as BEST and ESTIEM, in bridging this gap, through initiatives that support student-faculty collaboration, curriculum development and feedback systems. By positioning students as active partners in education reform, the session fosters a space for shared responsibility and forward-looking strategies to prepare future engineers for a more sustainable and socially engaged profession.
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Invited Workshop Recommended citation: Lopez Soler, F., & Vandenborne, K. (2025). Mind The Gap! Students, Society and the Future of Engineering. In Kangaslampi, R., Langie, G., Järvinen, H.-M., & Nagy, B. (Eds.), SEFI 53rd Annual Conference. European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI), Tampere, Finland. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17631746. This Conference Paper is brought to you for open access by the 53rd Annual Conference of the European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI) at Tampere University in Tampere, Finland. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
MIND THE GAP! STUDENTS, SOCIETY AND THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERING F. Lopez Soler European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management, Cartagena, Spain K. Vandenborne Board of European Students of Technology, Ghent, Belgium Conference Key Areas: Dialogue between engineering and society – effects on education Keywords: student engagement, societal impact, industry relevance ABSTRACT Engineering education faces increasing pressure to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. There is a growing recognition that curricula must better reflect both societal needs and industry expectations. This workshop, titled “Mind the gap! Students, society & the future of engineering,” aims to explore how student perspectives and societal relevance can shape more responsive and responsible engineering education. Participants engage in a series of interactive activities designed to identify and discuss the “gaps” between current education systems and the evolving demands of society and the professional world. Through collaborative reflection and small group work, key themes will emerge. The workshop also highlights the role of student organisations, such as BEST and ESTIEM, in bridging this gap, through initiatives that support student-faculty collaboration, curriculum development and feedback systems. By positioning students as active partners in education reform, the session fosters a space for shared responsibility and forward-looking strategies to prepare future engineers for a more sustainable and socially engaged profession.
1 BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE 1.1 Context Engineering education is at a crossroads. As societal challenges grow more complex, from climate change to digital transformation, engineers are increasingly expected to operate not just as technical problem-solvers but as socially responsible professionals. However, many students and educators perceive a growing disconnect between what is taught in engineering curricula and the needs of the society and industries they are meant to serve. This workshop, co-developed by the student organisations BEST (Board of European Students of Technology) and ESTIEM (European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management), aims to bring these challenges to the forefront. It encourages a critical examination of how education systems can evolve to better incorporate student perspectives, align with industry trends and remain relevant to the wider societal context. 1.2 Need for collaboration Bridging the gap between education and the world beyond the classroom requires collaborative efforts. Universities, faculty members, industry partners and students all have a role to play in ensuring that future engineers are equipped not only with technical knowledge but also with the ethical, environmental and societal awareness needed to act responsibly. 2 WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES 2.1 Target audience This workshop is designed for students, educators and academic professionals in the field of engineering education. It also welcomes participants from student organisations, industry representatives and anyone interested in the evolving role of engineering in society. The session is particularly relevant for those seeking to understand how education can better prepare engineers to respond to societal needs, industry demands and the complex challenges of the future. 2.2 Expected learning outcomes By the end of the workshop, participants will: ● Discuss and reflect on key gaps between current engineering education and societal expectations ● Reflect on the roles and responsibilities of students, educators, universities, industry and policy-makers in closing these gaps. ● Identify actionable ways to integrate societal and industry-relevant themes into engineering education. ● Understand how student organisations like BEST and ESTIEM contribute to educational innovation and co-creation.
3 WORKSHOP DESIGN 3.1 Time plan Table 1. Time plan Run time Activity Notes 5 min Introduction Welcome participants, introduce the topic and outline the session structure and goals. 15 min “Mind the gap… with a bridge!” Participants reflect individually and in groups on missing links between engineering education and society. 10 min Group sharing Each table discusses key insights; 15 min Closing the Gap: Who, How, and What?” Small group discussions on actionable steps to bridge the gap in the form of a world café. 10 min Presentation BEST & ESTIEM Showcase real-world student-led initiatives improving engineering education. 5 min Conclusions Summarise key messages; participants write down one action they will take going forward. 3.2 Interactivity This workshop is designed to be interactive, encouraging active participation through individual reflection, small-group collaboration and collective discussion. Rather than delivering content passively, the session invites participants to explore and co-create ideas around bridging the gap between engineering education, industry and societal needs. Key interactive elements include: ● Participants visually reflect on what is missing between engineering education and society by drawing a metaphorical bridge, sparking personal engagement and peer conversation. ● Tables discuss common themes and identify shared priorities, bringing diverse perspectives into a collective space. ● Participants work together to propose concrete actions and identify responsible stakeholders, encouraging practical thinking in the format of a world café. ● Each participant is asked to write down one specific action they will take after the workshop, anchoring the learning in real-world follow-up. 4 WORKSHOP RESULTS Please ensure that your workshop proposal leaves space for the workshop results and outcomes that will be added AFTER the conference to the final workshop report. The final report will be submitted after the conference, and it should be 4-6 pages in length (excluding references).