21 Motivational Videos Clips That’ll Warm Your Heart

Free inspirational motivational video clips

Whenever friends or family forward those jokes emails or motivational videos clips, the first thing I’ll do is to delete them. Pardon me, but I seldom see any true value in those emails to really justify the few minutes reading or watching them.

But a few days ago, something made me watch a motivational videos clip. It was sent by my sister. And I was glad I did that. It was so heart wrenching and yet motivational that for the first time I realize there can be gems in such emails! I cried. And I just couldn’t stop.

Because of that, I’ve decided to compile a list of all the wonderful motivational videos clips that I can find and hope they’ll inspire you just like how they’ve motivated me. Live your life to the fullest pursuing your dreams. Regardless of whatever odds you may face. And be absolutely grateful for everything around you. Be it your friends, family, classmates or even your neighbours.
(1) Must Watch Motivational Video Clips (Warning, Kleenex Might Be Required!)

*
The Genius Little Mozart

Yes, this is the clip I was talking about earlier. An adopted child, 5 year old Ye Eun has never taken any piano lessons. But she could play any tune after listening to it once. Yes, once! That feat is already nothing short of amazing. What’s even more remarkable is, little Ye Eun is blind from birth. Watch her touching performance as she brandish her gift in front of a popular Korean variety show audience.
*
Team Hoyt

The Dick & Rick Hoyt team has totally changed my perception of father and son bonding. Son, Rick suffered from birth complications and can’t walk or talk since he was born. Despite that, he and his dad have completed various seemingly superhuman marathons or triathlons together – with a combination of 26.2 miles acres of running, 112 miles of bicycling and 2.4 miles of swimming. They also surmounted various mountains and treks across America. This showcased an TV interview and excerpt of one of their inspiring conquests. One of the most touching motivational videos I’ve come across.

(2) If They Can Pursue Their Dreams Despite The Odds, What’s Stopping You?

*
A Future Mum-To-Be

Who says one can’t take care of a baby, own a home based business, type on the keyboard, drive a car just because she’s got no arms? Barbara’s feat really made me embarrassed. I’ve never even changed a diaper with my hands and she did it in a jiffy with her feet! Kudos, Barbara. Kudos.
*
A Very Special Marching Band Member

Patrick Henry Hughes has always been very talented in music. This time he has decided to join a marching band. The only issue? Patrick’s blind and paralyzed from waist down. Watch this to see how Patrick did it, with the help of his Dad. I particularly loved this part of his interview in the motivational videos, “God made me blind and unable to walk. Big Deal. He gave me the ability to, the musical gifts I have and the great opportunity to meet new people…”. Now, regardless of which faith we belong to, how many people can steadfastly appreciate every part of his being like Patrick did? Despite such adversities?
*
Aspiring Painter

I loved sketching when I was in grade and high school. Once, a couple of us were sketching a particular car in our school’s compound when the driver drove off. We were totally aghasted! Some of my classmates even protested to our art teacher that they couldn’t draw because the subject was no longer there. When I watched John Bramblitt’s story, I really felt for him. He’s right. You don’t require sight to create great paintings or sketches. You need insight.
*
Decide & Just Go For It

Decision has the power to change a person’s life. If you’ve ever experienced making a difficult decision and committing to it, this 9 year old boy’s story will definitely drawf it!
*
Powerful Wrestler

If you’re someone who tend to lament over life’s adversities, let Dustin Carter show you how NOT to be a whimp. Only one word can describe my thoughts when I watch this. Speechless.
*
The Last Lecture

Chances are, you’ve probably heard or even watched this amazing lecturer’s speech series. The reason I’m linking to this again is because I simply cannot resist conveying the strong message in his speech. Something I’ve always asserted in many of my articles too. Go for your dreams! So that even if you’re on your death bed, you’ve got no regrets. (Update : Dr Randy Pausch passed away peacefully on 25 July, 2008. As a tribute to him, I’ve included this special interview he had with ABC News which also contain an archive of videos about his life).
*
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

The fact is, many people want to. But are they able to put in that incredible action like what these 2 kids did? When you listen to their success stories, you’ll see what I meant by incredible action.
*
Another Unexpected Showcase of Talent

If you liked the Paul Potts video I’ve previously linked to, I’m sure you’ll like this one. It’s about a very talented boy who was always bullied in school. Amazing confidence booster!

(4) Sports Motivation

*
The Great Coach

If you’ve never had a coach or mentor, be it in sports, life or business, this will probably give you the impetus to consider one. An excerpt from the movies, you’ll realize how effective a coach can stretch you and help you uncover the potential you’ve never taught you’ve.
*
A Great Motivational Speech

Kudos to Al Pacino for relaying this very motivational speech to his football team. It’s an excerpt from the movie “Any Given Sunday”. What he said isn’t just applicable to football or any team sports. It’s also very true in real life. Ask yourself. Are you closing up the inches?
*
The Ironman

A short but empowering video on the ironman triathlon. It really keep your vibes up, you know. But then again, I admit I’m somewhat biased. After all, I’ve just signed up for a 10km run!
*
Football Frenzy

An incredibly motivating clip for our high school American Football sportsmen and fans out there. If this can give me – someone who know nuts about American Football – an adrenaline boost, I’m sure it can do wonders for you and your tournaments.

(4) Change The World, One Person At A Time

*
Challenge Day

High school bullying is a phenomenon in many countries. Yes, even in my part of the world. This 15 minute excerpt of the Emmy award winning documentary showcases how this US based non profit organization transformed the lives of many teens. For the first 5 minutes of the clip, this seemed like any other documentary I’ve seen. It was only during that “cross that line” exercise that I started to sit up. Despite the diversity of each teenager, all of them – the bullies and the bullied – suffered some kind of insecurities. I guess that’s when the teens began to see they’re not alone. I’m moved. Are you?
*
Unity In Diversity

A light hearted promotional ad in India about how one small boy’s initiative sparked off a team effort to remove a tree (that’s causing a traffic jam). Though simple, the message is very strong : Unity across diversity. Oh yeah, I love that upbeat song too. :)
*
Do You Have Eyes But Can’t See?

Some people may find this fictional short film rather cliche. What mesmerized me about it is not so much the storyline. But rather the insights it draws upon. Watch for the slight twist at the end. Interesting.

(5) Scenes From The Movies

*
Rudy (Part I & II)

Frankly, I’ve never watch Rudy, a true story based on an aspiring young man who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. But after going through this 2 part documentary, the inspiring scenes and the very fact that it’s a true story gripped me. It’s not just about football. It’s about going all out to fulfill the dreams you’ve set in your life. Awesome! I’ve already put this on my Must Watch movies for this year. Have you?
*
Rocky Balboa

Rocky have decided come out of retirement to fight the younger, stronger heavyweight champ Mason Dixon. One day, his estranged son – whose relationship with Rocky was strained because he thought he was hired in his last job due to his last name – came to his restaurant to look him up. He wanted his father to withdraw from the competition. Rocky gave him an incredibly good wake up call. When I watched this in the cinema, I was so encouraged that I shed tears of inspiration. Yes, it was that good.
*
Chris Gardener

Based on a true story, Chris Gardener is a self made millionaire, motivational speaker and philanthropist who was once forced to be homeless while he was doing an internship in a stock brokerage firm. This trailer video showed some of the many inspiring scenes – from his insistence to go to the internship interview even when he was just hit by a car, assurance to provide his son a better life, to his awesome father-&-son speech :“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. Not even me, alright?”. A good watch for all parents out there.
*
World’s Fastest Indian

This is a short clip of the conversation between Burt Munro and the young boy who lived next door. Based on a true story, the legendary speed bike racer Burt had always dreamed of setting a new land speed record with his Indian – a motorcycle he bought in the 1920s. No one believed he could succeed. After all, he was just diagnosed with a serious heart ailment and told by the doctors not to race anymore. That young boy was his only supporter. And do you know what you might as well be if you don’t follow through your dreams? The answer, my friend is in the clip. Enjoy.

That’s all from me. Do you have any inspirational or motivational videos clips that you would like to share? Please do so in the comments!

Maitrik's Way of Learning Networking

Juniper Network Odyssey Access Client Manager v5.00.12709.0 FIPS Edition

Juniper Network Odyssey Access Client Manager v5.00.12709.0 FIPS Edition | 14.45 MB

Juniper Networks Odyssey Access Client FIPS Edition offers the features demanded by global public and private sector organizations, and incorporates a FIPS 140-2 Level 1 validated cryptographic module.

A specialized edition of the Odyssey Access Client 802.1X client that meets stringent government IT and communications requirements, Juniper Networks Odyssey Access Client FIPS Edition:
* Incorporates a FIPS 140-2 Level 1, Certificate #569 validated (by NIST and the CSE) cryptographic module
* Conforms to FIPS guidelines, using EAP-TLS authentication, 802.11i (WPA2) key derivation, and AES-CCMP data encryption
* Has been accepted into evaluation for conformance to the Common Criteria (ISO/IEC 15408)
* Is compatible with U.S. Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) standards and certificates
* Supports the xSec protocol, using 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Layer 2 header encryption

Feature & Benefit:
*Standards-based platform support - OAC offers simultaneous support for wired and wireless 802.1X deployments and use through a single client as well as popular wired and wireless operating system platforms, most EAP types, and multiple security profiles.
*Connectivity control - OAC provides complete control over secure, safe, and appropriate network connectivity. Can integrate with Juniper Networks Unified Access Control comprehensive network access control solution.
*Easy connections - OAC makes it easy for users to connect and be productive. Users can move seamlessly between networks while maintaining secure connections.
*Cost savings - OAC delivers dramatic savings in training, help desk, and support costs.

Homepage - www.juniper.net

Enjoi!!!!!!love
Peace!!!!!!love

Download:
http://www.easy-share.com/1905092105/Juniper Network Odyssey Access Client Manager_www.dl4all.com.rar

Mirror:
http://uploadcell.com/pzqdkcmlvydg/Juniper_Network_Odyssey_Access_Client_Manager_www.dl4all.com.rar

Wandering IPs v1.2.3

Ever thought about visualizing your network connections in 3D environment? Try Wandering IPs, lightweight tool that monitors open TCP connections, identifies remote IP adresses and then determines their geographic coordinates. Results are projected on textured 3D Globe that can be integrated with your desktop background. Apart from locating endpoinds, it can be used to trace the route taken by packets across an IP network. Program utilizes variation of MaxMind GeoLite database which contains over 3,000,000 IP-to-location records and is frequently updated.

Requirements:
PC running Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP or Vista
Internet connection
128 MB RAM
40 MB free disk space
3D graphic card with at least 32 MB video memory

Privacy:
Wandering IPs does not gather or transmit any informations concerning your internet connections. It does not require external services to operate, as it uses its own database located on your hdd.

Size: 5.74 MB

Download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/236186523/Wandering_IPs_v1.2.3_www.dl4all.com.rar

Mirror1:
http://hotfile.com/dl/3471765/63cab1a/Wandering_IPs_v1.2.3_www.dl4all.com.rar.html

Mirror2:
http://www.uploading.com/files/WJMLAA2A/Wandering_IPs_v1.2.3_www.dl4all.com.rar.html

Employers hiring the Class of 2009

ARCADIS
Industry: Engineering
Estimated new graduate hires: 30-40

Open positions: Geologists, environmental scientists, engineers (civil, geological, geotechnical and transportation)

Candidate qualities: Internship experience in related engineering and science fields; knowledge of field based on experience and degree program; excellent verbal and writing skills; and demonstrated leadership on academic projects, honor societies and extracurricular activities.

Cbeyond
Industry: Technology
Estimated new graduate hires: 250

Open positions: Sales associates

Candidate qualities: Energetic, entrepreneurial-minded professionals with outstanding interpersonal skills, a strong competitive attitude, excellent written and verbal communications skills, self motivation, exceptional work ethic and interest in management opportunities.

DISH Network
Industry: Television Entertainment Provider
Estimated new graduate hires: 40-70

Open positions: Various

Candidate qualities: Candidates that possess intelligence, energy and a need to achieve. Looking for those that can bring bright ideas and a unique perspective to the organization and customers and recognize them with greater responsibility, faster advancement, higher visibility and more rewards.

GEICO
Industry: Insurance and financial services
Estimated new graduate hires: 300

Open positions: Business operations and IT management; supervisory leadership programs; management trainees; liability claims representatives; auto damage trainees; sales and service representatives; actuarial assistants; analysts; IT programmers, Web developers and systems analysts

Candidate qualities: Must have good grades; leadership potential; strong communication and computer skills; analytical and problem-solving skills; customer focus; looking for a career, not just a job. Business, liberal arts, computer science and math majors are encouraged.

GMAC
Industry: Finance and banking
Estimated new graduate hires: 40-50 new hires in fall 2009

Open positions: Finance, risk, treasury, audit and IT jobs

Candidate qualities: High performers who take initiative, are flexible and adaptable to change. Applicants must be ethical, demonstrate leadership, achieve results, be a strategic thinker, have technical competence and embrace diversity.

Harris Corporation
Industry: Communications and information technology
Estimated new graduate hires: 170

Open positions: Engineering (software, mechanical, electrical, network); geospatial analysis; supply chain and procurement; accounting and finance

Candidate qualities: Confident students with good time-management, discipline and effective communication skills. New college grads must come from a regionally accredited institution and meet a minimum GPA requirement of 2.8.

Kaplan Higher Education
Industry: Education
Estimated new graduate hires: 250

Open positions: Corporate, operations and ground campus positions in marketing, finance, sales and Human Resources

Candidate qualities: Motivated applicants who are driven and high-performance oriented.

The Kroger Company
Industry: Grocery and retail
Estimated new graduate hires: 800

Open positions: Information systems, engineering and corporate audit retail, store management development program and career training program in manufacturing

Candidate qualities: Well-rounded individuals who show excellence in their fields of studies. Candidates must be results-oriented; possess good verbal and written communication skills; capable of build trusting relationships with other associates and customers; and able to understand and adapt to the needs of the customers.

Maxim Healthcare Services
Industry: Health care
Estimated new graduate hires: 500

Open positions: Entry-level sales recruiters

Candidate qualities: Highly-energetic, sales-minded individuals who are hungry for opportunity. Candidates should be interested in taking the next step and growing with the organization through hard work, dedication and determination.

Perot Systems
Industry: Information technology
Estimated new graduate hires: 50

Open positions: Business analyst, project coordinator, desk side support technician, revenue cycle representative

Candidate qualities: Candidates must possess company values and principles including integrity, personal accountability, teamwork and a passion for excellence. General requirements include excellent communication skills, strong problem solving and analytical skills, a proven track record of success and a strong work ethic. Previous health care and/or IT experience is a plus.

Quest Diagnostics
Industry: Health care
Estimated new graduate hires: 20-30

Open positions: Finance, Human Resources, IT, sales, marketing and operations

Candidate qualities: Strong educational background, desire and ability to learn, and a drive for results. Individuals must be willing to take on responsibility and accountability for his/her work and be able to work independently in a fast-paced changing environment.

Rite Aide Corporation
Industry: Retail pharmacy
Estimated new graduate hires: 250-350

Open positions: Entry-level management trainees; store management

Candidate qualities: Graduates who are passionate about providing superior customer service and demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit. Must possess general leadership qualities, a high degree of integrity, accountability and the ability to effectively communicate personal vision with your team. All academic majors will be considered.

Robert Bosch, LLC
Industry: Technology and services
Estimated new graduate hires: 20

Open positions: Professional development training (bachelor's level candidates) and junior management program (master's level candidates)

Candidate qualities: General requirements include a bachelor's or master's degree completed within last 36 months in electrical or mechanical engineering, finance, accounting, Human Resources, marketing/technical sales, or supply chain. Maximum of three years full-time work experience or less, excellent verbal and written communication skills, geographically mobile, minimum 3.0 - 3.2 cumulative GPA, and authorization to work in the U.S.

Ryder System, Inc.
Industry: Transportation
Estimated new graduate hires: 300

Open positions: Customer logistics specialist; logistics engineer; rental management trainee

Candidate qualities: General requirements include Microsoft Office knowledge, and strong communication, presentation, analytical and multi-tasking skills. Must be a goal-oriented, results-driven, assertive and self-motivated personality with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team environment.

Sabre Holdings
Industry: Information technology
Estimated number of new hires: 8

Open positions: Programmers, developers, marketing, business operations (finance)

Candidate qualities: Undergraduates in their junior or senior year, or seniors of graduate program. Must have previous work experience, ability to work with a team, assume project ownership, take pride in their work, and possess entrepreneurial spirit.

Sara Lee
Industry: Food and beverage
Estimated new graduate hires: 30

Open positions: Assistant brand managers, HR generalists, category analysts, operations supervisors, maintenance supervisors, associate scientists, demand planners and customer service account managers

Candidate qualities: Graduates actively seeking a platform on which they can propel themselves to visible, professional success.

Shell Oil Company
Industry: Oil and gas
Estimated new graduate hires: N/A

Open positions: Meteorology; industrial hygiene; geosciences; Engineering (mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, environmental, petroleum); finance and accounting; Health, Safety, Security and environmental programs; sales

Candidate qualities: Minimum 3.2 GPA. Must be an innovative problem-solver and able to work well with others; technical skills and proven achievements are a must.

The Sherwin-Williams Company
Industry: Retail
Estimated new graduate hires: 550

Open positions: Management and sales trainees

Candidate qualities: Candidates should have a bachelor's degree, entrepreneurial spirit, demonstrated leadership ability, and work experience in customer service and/or sales. A willingness to relocate for advancement is encouraged.

Sodexo
Industry: Hospitality/contract services
Estimated new graduate hires: 95

Open positions: Food services manager, environmental services manager, dietitian, engineer and facilities manager, accountant

Candidate qualities: Students with necessary technical skills like communication, financial acumen and knowledge of the business. Integrity, motivation to succeed and flexibility are a must.

Sun Microsystems
Industry: Network infrastructure
Estimated new graduate hires: 80

Open positions: Computer science, electrical engineering, marketing and finance

Candidate qualities: Computer science and electrical engineering students who have a demonstrated ability to successfully balance academic requirements with internships and student club activity.

Tyson Foods Incorporated
Industry: Food services
Estimated new graduate hires: 50-65

Open positions: Operations, research and development, sales, marketing and information systems

Candidate qualities: Students with diverse and transferable skill sets and with college majors ranging from animal science and foods science, to business and information systems.

UnitedHealth Group
Industry: Health care
Estimated new graduate hires: 150-200

Open positions: Accountants, financial analysts, operations analysts, business analysts, product consultants, applications developers, programmers, actuarial analysts, internal auditors, communications specialists, marketing specialists, senior financial analysts and outbound marketing specialists

Candidate qualities: Smart, motivated, goal-oriented, career-minded individuals who work well in a team, and would enjoy working in a fast-paced environment.

Weichert Realtors
Industry: Real estate
Estimated new graduate hires: 640

Open positions: Sales associates

Candidate qualities: Must thrive in a team environment, have strong communication skills and enjoy interacting with people. Candidates should also be comfortable with technology and social networking online.

25. Whirlpool Corporation
Industry: Manufacturing, consumer products and durable goods
Estimated new graduate hires: 75

Open positions: Leadership development programs: engineering, finance, marketing, supply chain, information systems, operations management and sales

Candidate qualities: Ability to drive change and exhibit leadership, teamwork, effective communication skills, customer focus and integrity. Demonstrated capability to achieve extraordinary results a must.

*Companies are listed in alphabetical order. For specific job requirements, please visit individual company Web sites.

The future of engineering

Electrical engineering faculty and students comment on engineering careers, industry involvement, and how the world perceives engineers.
Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor, and Amy Laskowski, Contributing Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 9/1/2006

As Test & Measurement World reaches its 25th anniversary, we editors are looking to the future.

And that future resides in the young men and women considering technical careers, their teachers and mentors, and the industry leaders who work with the academic community.

Electrical engineering can be a rewarding career. You learn how things work, you solve problems, and you use your knowledge to create products that enhance—and even save—lives. The field changes rapidly, providing new opportunities for engineers to grow professionally, be creative, and make a difference in the world. For these and other reasons, many engineers wouldn't dream of doing anything else.

The engineering profession in the US, however, is at a crossroads. New technologies offer the promise of rewarding careers, and there are infinite products yet to invent. But despite these limitless opportunities, enrollment in engineering programs at American universities is flat at best.

The numbers speak for themselves. Figure 1 shows the number of US electrical and computer engineering (ECE) degrees earned from 1971 through 2003. From the late 1970s though the 1980s, ECE degrees rose steadily, and salaries went right along with them as employers snatched every ECE graduate in sight. By the 1990s, ECE degrees dropped steadily.

To find out why people choose—or do not choose—engineering as a career, what employers look for, and industry's role in engineering education, we spoke with professors, students, and professionals.

From our interviews, we found numerous reasons why young people enter engineering, the most prominent being that they already know an engineer, usually a parent or relative. Knowing someone in the field gives young people the introduction they need to pursue engineering as a career. Furthermore, teachers and shop courses may pique someone's interest in engineering. Conversely, many bright students never study engineering because they don't know anything about what engineers do.

Figure 1. Electrical and computer engineering degrees rose in the 1980s and dropped through the 1990s, with master’s degrees becoming a larger portion of the total. Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Math and science: just the beginning

Gary S. May, ECE professor and chair, Georgia Tech, said: "We have to show that engineers are normal people with normal lives with the same sorts of concerns as everyone."
Many students consider engineering careers because they're good at math and science and receive encouragement to enter the field from their parents, teachers, and guidance counselors. “I think that's a reasonable thing to do,” said Professor Gary S. May, ECE department chair at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). “It doesn't mean that it's the only career that's available to you, or you'd be a perfect engineer because of that. But I think it's a reasonable thing to tell students that engineering is an option for you because you have this aptitude.”

An aptitude for math and science is certainly a requirement for an engineering career, but is it enough? Not according to Professor Richard Vaz of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Vaz, who is associate dean of the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division at WPI, said that the best engineers also have a passion for solving problems.

UCSB Professor Steve Long also cited “the willingness to do critical thinking” that makes good engineers. He argued that engineers are naturally curious and they want to know about something that's not necessarily in a textbook.

Not everyone, though, has a clear reason for studying engineering. “When I ask students why they want to study engineering, very rarely can they articulate a reason,” said Vaz. “If they can, it usually doesn't line up well with what engineers really do, which is solve problems and make the world a better place.” Some people, we learned, go into engineering because of the prospect of earning a decent living with just a bachelor's degree. (See “Is engineering a profession?”) “That [belief] won't get you very far,” added Long. He also cited “pushy parents” as another wrong reason that some young people study engineering.

Moshe Kam, ECE professor at Drexel, is working with the IEEE to educate the public about the advantages of an engineering career.
While some people study engineering who might have been better at something else, many people who could make good engineers miss the opportunity because they don't know what engineers do. “We don't see enough of the brightest people coming into engineering because early in their educational paths, they get advice that essentially blocks their way,” said Moshe Kam, professor of ECE at Drexel University and VP of the IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB). “There is a feeling that we won't have enough people, we won't have the right people, and because of that, we won't have enough innovation,” he added.

Kam based his conclusions on meetings with representatives from 53 companies that hire electrical engineers. He also found that high school guidance counselors may unconsciously steer women with the ability and prerequisites for studying engineering into other fields because, “It's not something that women do, and that's a myth that we need to shatter.” (See “Where are the women?”)

Georgia Tech's May noted that some of the issues that divert women away from engineering also apply to minorities. “We have to show that engineers are normal people with normal lives with the same sorts of concerns as everyone,” he said. “This also affects our ability to recruit minority students. I say that from experience.”
Educate the public

Kam and others within IEEE's EAB are working to educate the public about the rewards of an engineering career. The most visible effort is the Web site TryEngineering.org. Launched on June 5, 2006, the site goes beyond electrical and computer engineering, with interviews of chemical engineers, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers. The site provides information for students, parents, guidance counselors, and teachers. It also provides a search engine for finding engineering schools. Kam explained that the site shows engineering in a positive light, showing the “can do” attitude of engineers. Using the site, prospective engineering students can ask questions of, and get replies from, working engineers and undergraduates.

Kam also acknowledged that engineering schools can do a better job of attracting and keeping good students. For one thing, he said that some engineering schools still operate with a “boot camp” mentality. “It's not that students can't cope with the curriculum,” he explained. “They transfer out of engineering because of a 'weed out the weak' atmosphere. It not only chases away women and minorities, it also chases away a good chunk of the male population.”

The media plays a role, too. Talk of outsourcing may lead young people to believe that there's no future in engineering, particularly ECE, because of today's worldwide communications. Many companies have moved manufacturing and some engineering offshore. Software engineering is the most obvious, but some hardware-engineering functions have moved, too. Still, everyone we interviewed said that there are, and will always be, many engineering opportunities in the US. Engineers innovate, which creates new products as well as the jobs needed to design and produce them.

Although a great deal of semiconductor manufacturing has moved offshore, by no means has all of it gone. “I don't think the bleak views are justified,” added Professor Fred Looft, ECE department head at WPI. “A lot of manufacturing is coming back because of quality issues. I've talked to people who have done it.” One such company is Cypress Semiconductor, which recently moved some testing operations back to Minnesota from Asia (Ref. 1).

Doug Williams, professor and ECE associate chair, Georgia Tech, sees engineering enrollment increasing, but ECE enrollment is holding steady.
UCSB's Long and Professor Doug Williams, ECE associate chair at Georgia Tech, differ on the area of microelectronics. Long tends to steer students away from IC fabrication, arguing that these jobs are moving to places like Taiwan and Korea. “You can probably count on the fingers of one hand the companies in the US that are doing much fabrication work.”

Williams, however, stated that the microelectronics program at Georgia Tech is “booming.” He sees an increase in companies looking for graduates with microelectronic experience. With that, he sees a corresponding increase in research dollars that companies are putting into semiconductors.

One person who sees a bright future in ECE is Andrew DuPont, a graduate student at WPI. “Just because you get an electrical engineering degree doesn't mean that you have to be an electrical engineer,” he said enthusiastically. “The degree can lead to many opportunities.”
Broad field

Indeed, a degree in electrical engineering can open many doors, in part because electrical engineering is so broad. Electrical engineers have taken on many tasks that you might expect people with other technical degrees to do. Semiconductor processing, for example, is highly populated by electrical engineers, but its basis is in physics and chemistry. Other areas include optics (as applied to communications), aerospace engineering, and even life sciences. “A lot of people don't realize that a lot of biomedical devices are actually electrical devices,” noted Georgia Tech's May.

Engineering jobs also cut across technical disciplines. More and more, mechanical, chemical, and biomedical engineers use electronics to measure a product's performance. “Who says you're not going to do test and measurement on a chemical process for drug manufacturing?” asked Looft. “That's a huge area. And you better know a little bit about chemical processing when you go into that job.”

Some people with engineering degrees move out of engineering jobs but stay in their respective industries by moving into sales, marketing, and management (a few even become editors covering the industries from which they came). Others move into fields such as law and medicine. Law firms, looking for patent lawyers with technical backgrounds, may hire engineers or engineering graduates and pay for law school.

Those who choose to enter the engineering work force may find that they need skills beyond math, science, engineering basics, and problem solving. We asked the participants what additional skills employers now look for in engineering graduates. While we received some differing answers, everyone agreed that communications skills sit atop the list.

No longer is it enough to design circuits and get test results. You must communicate those results through written reports and presentations. Georgia Tech's Williams noted that the university has integrated writing of technical documents into several courses, which UCSB's Long echoed. WPI has even created an interdisciplinary major or double major in technical writing.

While schools have responded to employers looking for better communications skills, some in academia remain skeptical. One such person is Professor John Orr of WPI. “The standard example is if you hear an after dinner speech from the VP of company xyz, [he or she] will describe that employers need graduates with good communications skills, good teamwork skills, and some global experience. But when hiring managers come to campus, they look for skills such as experience with the latest Cadence software release. They're looking for engineers who can be productive from day one.”

Regardless of whether communication courses are included, it's becoming virtually impossible for schools to provide all of the required engineering skills at the undergraduate level. In fact, some people have begun to question if you should be able to enter the engineering work force with just a bachelor's degree. Employers are looking more and more for graduates with master's degrees, and the number of master's degrees relative to bachelor's degrees has risen in the past 30 years (Figure 1). (continued)

At the same time, the number of PhDs has remained relatively flat. During the last business downturn, companies may have scaled back their research budgets, relying on universities to do the work. “There's a lot less research going on in industry than there used to be,” said UCSB's Long. “Most companies have decimated their research labs.” Long argued that companies are looking for fewer PhDs than they did 10 or 15 years ago because they don't have the facilities and don't want to pay the higher salaries.

In recent years, industry has become more involved with academia. That's good for the most part, as long as industry lets the teachers teach. Often, companies sponsor student projects or contribute to the funding of research labs. Students benefit from having worked on real-world projects and by making industry contacts, which can lead to employment upon graduation. Employers benefit because they can hire graduates with practical experience.

Overall, industry involvement in projects is welcome, because the companies provide equipment, materials, and sometimes funds for student projects. “If they're paying for a project, then they should have the say over the project,” said WPI's Looft. “But it can get too involved. I have companies that want to tell us what we're going to do, educationally.”

Drexel's Kam doesn't agree. “I'm sure that there are horror stories here and there of companies who donated the equipment and wanted to control the curriculum,” he said. “But I wouldn't call it a trend nor would I say this is widespread.” Georgia Tech's May agreed that a few companies want too much involvement, but he doesn't think it's excessive. Companies are, after all, stakeholders in the graduates that these universities produce.

Looft said that companies go over the line when they say “you didn't get it done” meaning that a student project didn't produce a marketable product. When that occurs, he reminds companies that a student project is an educational endeavor that may not produce a working product.

Kam takes a different approach. He argued that companies need to get more involved in the educational process. “Industry is absent from the accreditation process,” he said. He wants to see greater participation from industry so universities can produce the engineers best qualified to keep companies competitive.

Whether you think the world has too many or too few electrical engineers, you'll probably agree that engineers make an impact on people's lives every day. Engineering has proven to be a satisfying career for many. Your work makes a difference in the world. Now, go out and tell someone how engineers contribute to society.
Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following students, who participated in our interviews but whom we did not quote: Molly Finn, civil engineering student at Syracuse University, and Alexander Koulet, engineering student at the University of New Hampshire.

In addition, we would also like to thank the following staff members at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for taking time to talk to us: John McNeil, associate professor ECE; Peder Pederson, director, Denmark Project Center; and Sergey N. Makarov, associate professor.