Regenerating the CDIO Framework for Internationalization and Sustainability

Today's graduate engineers not only have to be work-ready, but they have to be world-ready - ready to work and ready to address global engineering issues of people and our environment. The CDIO framework, developed 10 years ago, comprises a set of guiding Standards, with evaluation rubrics, a syllabus structure with nominated syllabus topics, and resources and tools to assist the practitioner to design, reform and deliver engineering programs. Amongst other attributes, the CDIO Standards include elements for program evaluation in a cycle of continuous improvement, and allows for continuous improvement of the CDIO framework itself. This has led to a revision of the CDIO Syllabus which includes a greater emphasis on internationalization and sustainability, and elective topics on leadership and entrepreneurship. This paper presents the arguments underpinning the Syllabus revision, from the perspective of internationalization and sustainability, and sets the context of interpretation and application of the CDIO Standards.