The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-21
BUSINESS TRAINING
FOR ENGINEERS

Resolutions adopted at the conference
on business training for engineers and
engineering training for students OF
business. which was held In Washing
ton June PARA, put this important
group on record as in favor of sound
business training for engineers. The
resolutions were as follows:
81, Industrial and commercial devel-
opment has created a demand for me
with technical engineering tranins
and business ability. Manufacturing
industries are seeking engineers to
qualify to serve in capacities redutr-
ing sound business training. Banks
and brokers also need men with bust
ness training and the engineering
point of view. This need is rapidly
increasing and bids fair to demand a
lerge number of technically traped
men for both domestic and foreign
commerce
20. In order to meet this demand the
economic phases of engineering sub
-ects should be emphasized wherever
possible in engineering instruction.
This may be done by emphasizing the
problems of values and costs in the
regular technical work and by intro
ducing or extending courses in gen -
eral economies. cost accounting, bust-
ness organization, and business law
into the eneineering curricula. TheEe
courses should be designed particu-
larry to meet the needs OF the en-
cheering student.
20. The engineering phases Of eco
nomic subjects should be emphasized
wherever possible in commercial in
struction. Students In commercial
courses should also be given opportn-
nifty to take special courses in the basic
principles and practices Of engineering.
SO that they may understand in gem
erai terms the operation of power
plants and transportation systems from
the engineering point of view.
-. 1t is also urged upon all instt-
ttItions with departments in engineer
ing and economics or commerce that
they consider some plan of co-ordina-
ton to develop "a course in preparation
for those careers wherein practical
trafuing In modern languages, in the
essentials of engineering, and husf-
ness theory and practice have been
found to he both helpful and neces-
sary.
Need For weIl-Trnined Engineers
In discussing the conference DR.
Glen Levin Swiggett, of the bureau of
education. under whose direction two
preliminary conferences on this sub
ject have been held. stated that Its
purpose was to direct public attention
at this time to the positive need in our
country for an Increasing supply OF
wei1-trained young engineers to enter
upon business careers, with promotion
in the direction OF industrial and com
rnerctal management TN iargc-scate
Industrial production and corr mercial
enterprise" says Dr. Swiggett. "the
man of the future most helpful in
eliminating waste of machinery, MA
terials. and men, overcoming the pres
emit shocking percentage OF loss in
these three things, is the man whose
training represents a combination of
tie essentials of engineering and a
of the fundamentals of bus
mess practice.
There is Some objection to the use
OF the term commercial engineer for
this new type OF trained engineer. but
our committee has discovered through
two preliminary private conferences
that many universities ard colleges
have already felt the demand from in
dustry and commerce, and are endeav-
orinG in some way to meet it with the
coming school year"