Engineering education and power: the case of innovation in the 21st Century

Engineering education is the application of scientific, economic, social and practical knowledge to invent, create, design, build, maintain, research and improve structures machines, devices, systems, materials and processes. Engineering education is therefore an important component of innovation. The various innovations brought about by engineering education has delineated various countries along the lines of power and there is a dichotomy between them. Key among this is the separation between the Global North and the Global South. Innovation is a process and application of a new or meaningfully amended creation that needs long term commitment, resources and innovative climate in an organization. Findings from the study revealed that power dynamics is present in all situation and it takes different forms. It influences and shapes relationship. The study therefore recommends that there is a need to intensify efforts on engineering education in developing countries to create more innovations in the 21st century and effort should be geared towards the use and application of these innovations.