World Class Industrial Engineers Program

Penn State Industrial Engineering is committed to preparing the next generation of leaders...leaders who are technically adept and globally aware. These students will be truly World-Class Industrial Engineers. Becoming a World-Class Industrial Engineer is an exciting journey that begins with undergraduate study and requires a committment to lifelong learning and professional development.

World-Class Industrial Engineers share a distinct set of attributes. World-Class Industrial Engineers are:

Aware of the World - World-Class Industrial Engineers are aware of the global nature of their profession, and the challenges and opportunities that it brings; they are sensitive to the cultural differences and the diversity that exists within individual cultures.
Solidly Grounded - World-Class Industrial Engineers are solidly grounded in the fundamentals of their discipline. This solid grounding allows them to tackle complex, real-world problems and serves as the foundation on which they build their knowledge and expertise through lifelong learning.
Technically Broad - World-Class Industrial Engineers are conversant with other engineering and scientific disciplines related to their field, allowing them to work on problems that are cross-disciplinary.
Versatile - World-Class Industrial Engineers are capable to learning new skills as they grow in their careers and of applying their engineering problem-solving skills in non-traditional fields such as financial services, health care, and education.
Effective in Team Operations - World-Class Industrial Engineers are highly productive members of teams, co-located or geographically dispersed; they communicate effectively within and outside the team.
Effective in Leadership Positions - World-Class Industrial Engineers are effective leaders at all levels, from technical team leader to CEO,

This academic year will highlight the "World-Class Industrial Engineer". This initiative expounds the attributes students must possess as they aspire to be truly world class. Through collaboration with student groups, monthly features and the "World-Class Industrial Engineer" speaker series, the concept of world class engineering will come alive to the student population as they transverse through these formative years of their educational experience at Penn State.

This description of a World-Class Engineer was originated by the Leonhard Center Advisory Board members, December 1994. To review a more detailed description of the WCIE attributes, visit the Leonhard Center World-Class Engineer Website.