Joel Dresang of the Journal Sentinel explores the attempts by the University of Wisconsin to improve engineering education in Engineering Interest:

As industries and societies around the world face mind-boggling challenges involving such matters as infrastructure, medicine, information technology and energy, engineers are the workers trained to apply scientific knowledge to practical solutions, says Peercy, UW’s engineering dean.
…
The need for engineers is acute. They’re perennially on the most-wanted list in Manpower Inc.’s talent shortage surveys. Federal stimulus spending in such areas as energy technology and infrastructure should increase demand, Peercy said, and competition from emerging economies such as China and India is accelerating.

“We are so short on engineers in some disciplines in this country that my colleagues from industry in this country are telling me that they have to relocate offshore to get the workforce they need,” Peercy said in an interview.
…
The UW System Board of Regents approved an extra tuition charge of $700 a semester for engineering students to help the college offset higher costs of engineering instruction and to beef up staffing and enrollment. Peercy told the regents he’d boost undergraduate enrollment by 20% in five years. Already, in the first year, enrollment is up almost 8%, to 3,450 from 3,200.

Retooling curriculum: the college is integrating disciplines and broadening students’ exposure to other fields through team-teaching and more common coursework. It’s stressing experiential learning and entrepreneurial thinking through hands-on projects, competitions and student organizations such as Engineers Without Borders. It’s fostering more teamwork and communication.

Related: Duderstadt Urges Revolution in Engineering Education – William Wulf Webcast: Engineering Education in the 21st Century – Engineering Education at Smith College – Illinois and Olin Aim to Transform Engineering Education – Princeton Engineering School Targets Societal Needs