A Study Of The Engineering Discipline Framework Based On Ontology

The classification of Engineering Discipline is an important theme of engineering education and scientific & technological education management, while the gap between the ideal and the reality makes it a serious problem. This paper presents the background of the issue, which includes the complex situation of the discipline classification and the actual practice, the deficiency and lag of the corresponding study, and the urgent demand for a brand-new engineering discipline framework based on the great transformation of the science, technology and engineering education in the new century.The paper probes into the configuration and the character of the engineering discipline framework (EDF) in 6 chapters. And this study based on ontology has follow outcomes.I. The Diversity of the Framework Configuration for Engineering Discipline.The classification structures, the total subjects number and the subjects appellations of different framework configurations with special features are not completely the same, therefore, their alleged functions could not be exactly identical: the classification criterion of the three English-speaking countries for engineering discipline has a broader applicability which hold true for the fields of education, research, students recruiting, and employment; while the classification criterion of the other countries manifests a kind of "exclusion" in application, and in some countries, there are even more than one special criterion in the same application type.II. The Identification of the Ontology Elements for Engineering Discipline.Different discipline frameworks have similar inner characters, including the homologous derivation relationship with the fundamental engineering discipline, the affinity complementary relationship with mathematics and the correlated natural sciences, the basic distribution state in the functional object field, the major operation phase in the life cycle and the load status of the materials, energy and information of the engineering. Together with the structure index of the discipline, the knowledge ontology of the engineering discipline fully presents the configuration and the character of the EDF.III. The New Cognition from the Maps of the EDF.The visualization and the multivariate analysis toward 12 frameworks and 1,327 discipline samples confirms the outstanding status and function of the design, manufacturing and mining engineering, physics and electrical engineering, chemistry and chemical engineering, biology and mathematics in the engineering discipline system. The mechanical engineering and mechanics are the most prevailing elements in the engineering knowledge ontology, which provide a fundamental function for other engineering disciplines. The industrial engineering is in a weak status in the traditional framework, therefore, to vigorously facilitate the development of the relative disciplines of management, marketing and engineering service should be attached with serious consideration. The fundamental diversity between frameworks lies in the different emphasis in the functional fields of production, management, life and ecology, and the tendency toward science dependence and technology dependence as well.IV. The Crystal Presentation of the Diversiform EDFs.Based on the original data, the paper successfully avoids the problems of erroneous information relaying and first impressions being strongest by repeated checks of the translation. The objective and vivid description of the typical discipline classification of the representative nations globally in the paper provides an authentic information base for further research in the related fields.V. A Further Recognition of the Concepts of Discipline, Profession and Engineering.The paper provides a preliminary analysis and redefinition of the connotations, differences and connections of the three concepts. In addition to the three definitions of "engineering" from the perspectives of knowledge, activity and profession, the paper also illustrates that, "discipline" is not the exclusive belongings to science, on the contrary, learnings other than science could also own their unique disciplines. "Profession" as well as the "profession" in the terms such as professional boundaries, professionals, professional fields, professional educations, professional qualification demonstration all imply the idea of specialized career, while the "profession" (similar to "program") in Chinese universities contains the idea of specialized academic study. Grave differences as exist, the three concepts could still be tightly linked by means of their knowledge definition and profession (organization) definition.The development of engineering and engineering education in the 21st century calls for a new EDF so as to liberate and facilitate the scientific and technological productive forces of engineering. All these are the major means to construct a new framework: to enhance the core part of the knowledge system of the engineering discipline, to adjust the discipline structure, and to cultivate new fields. The paper proposes to unify the process chain and the value chain, and on top of which, "engineering with a big E" would be built through the continuous practice...