Thoughts on the Future of Higher Education: Lessons from 20 Years of Experimentation at Olin College

Summary form only given, as follows. A complete record of the panel discussion was not made available for publication as part of the conference proceedings. In an effort to remake engineering education, starting in 1999, Olin College, with $460 million of support from the F.W. Olin Foundation, began an effort to start over in engineering education. What does it mean to be an engineer in the 21st Century? What does it mean to be "educated" today? With the mission to become an important and constant contributor to engineering education in America and throughout the world, Olin has now influenced more than 800 universities from more than 50 nations in the last 10 years. This was achieved through a culture of bold experimentation and collaboration: no academic departments or tenure, everything has an "expiration date." The average Olin graduate today has completed more than 20 design-build team projects, and explored starting a business. Reflecting back after 20+ years, we now realize that the observations and insights obtained are not at all limited to engineering. They apply to all forms of education. At this moment when higher education has never been more important and fundamental global change is widespread, this talk will reflect on lessons learned that point the way for the future of undergraduate education in every discipline.