The Newport Declaration

To Globalize U.S. Engineering Education and Research

Rev. 7 November 2008

WHEREAS the world has experienced fundamental geopolitical and technological changes, which have revolutionized transportation and communication, opened borders and created vast new markets; And

WHEREAS these changes also involve substantially increased population in the developing world and increased worldwide tensions related to clean water, adequate food, energy, climate change, and sustainable development, And

WHEREAS engineering is crucial to addressing these grand challenges facing the planet and U.S. Engineering brings ingenuity, boldness, and a results-oriented mentality that can make unique contributions; And

WHEREAS the national economy, competitiveness, and well-being depend upon succeeding in a global, technology-driven marketplace; And

WHEREAS global collaboration on grand challenges is an excellent way to build community so U.S. engineering students and engineers are uniquely positioned to be ambassadors for the nation and to enhance global peace and prosperity; AND

WHEREAS all of the above have vital implications for the education of U.S. engineers;

IT IS IMPERATIVE that U.S. science and engineering educators and education adapt to the modern global environment, AND

IT IS IMPERATIVE that engineering students be provided opportunities and encouragement to develop the skills and attitudes necessary to interact successfully with people from other cultural and national environments.

TO THIS END, we call on engineering educators, engineering administrators, and engineering policy leaders to take deliberate and immediate steps to integrate global education into the engineering curriculum, recognizing it as one of the highest priorities to ensure global competency for their graduates

TO THIS END, we call on funding agencies, foundations, and leaders in the private sector to shape their policies and priorities in support of these goals;

Futhermore, TO THIS END, we urge that this document be widely distributed for endorsement by all key constituencies.

Composed and endorsed on this 6th day of November, 2008, by the participants of the NSF-supported Summit Meeting on the Globalization of Engineering Education

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