Memo+32

Introduction Here I will summarize the theoretical models that I am applying to my book. These models include a Foucaultian analysis of power, the humanistic psychological ideas on human development, methods for comparative study of education, and the emergent literature on Engineering Identity. I will propose my theoretical question here: analyze higher education as a technique of reinforcing power structure. In the following three parts, I will document my comparative ethnographic work. I organize the documents around three major actors in my research: students, colleges, and companies. Part I: College life for an engineering student Chapter 1 Decision before college Here I investigate the students choice of school and major with expectations of their own and from their parents Chapter 2 Engineering student In this chapter I mainly depict the study of expertise for engineering students, including their course taking and lab researches. Chapter 3 A student, a citizen, a person In chapter 3 I examine other aspects of the development of students, such as their activities in politics, art, humanistic and social science. Chapter 4 Ready to be an engineering? Here I document the professional preparations of the engineering students, including contest participation, internship, and job seeking. Part II: Educating engineers Chapter 5 Leading a college In this chapter I describe the viewpoints of the school administrations, reveal their prospect of colleges, and their concern for funding, ranking, and social relation for the school. Chapter 6 Teaching in classroom and laboratories Here I document the thoughts of faculty. By examining their research and teaching activities, I exhibit their thinking on research, education, and their evaluation of the students. Part III: Hiring engineers Chapter 7 Invest in the campus In this chapter I examine the company funded R & D in universities. I analyze the inputs and outputs of this R & D for the companies in terms of cost-benefit, network building, etc. Chapter 8 Making engineers from the beginning Here I examine how companies influence the view of students through various interactions, such as contest, visit invitation, technological or commercial lectures. Chapter 9 Attract the best minds Here I analyze companies' employment policies, pointing out how they try to attract the most excellent students. Conclusion In the conclusion I summarize my research with the analysis of the following topics:
 * 1) Institution: locate education into the political, economic and social context (neoliberalism, economic changes).
 * 2) Culture; tradition vs. modern; technological civilization
 * 3) Identity of engineers: intellectual vs. labor
 * 4) Knowledge flows across societies, cultures, individuals
 * 5) Future? Directions for reform