The MIT experience in research, teaching and organisation

The MIT Technology and Policy Program (TPP) provides an integrative education for scientists and engineers wishing to lead the development and implementation of responsible technology strategies for the benefit of their communities. It deals with a basic gap in traditional university structures, which normally develop skill in technology quite separate from any in-depth understanding of the skills - such as economics, law and politics - necessary to develop effective practical strategies. It acknowledges that leadership skills necessary for effective implementation of technology tie into engineering systems. The associated doctoral program in Technology, Management and Policy (TMP) focuses on producing scholars integrating technology with applied social science, with a particular emphasis on strategy and policy. The goal is to educate leaders (researchers and practitioners) in technology and policy at the leading edge of every new technology/policy issue. TPP seeks to produce societal leaders having: the intellect to deal with the many crucial technological dimensions of our society; the orientation to practical results characteristic of engineering professionals; the courage to take on the most difficult systems' problems; and the leadership to bring others forwards as they themselves move along. They would be "leaders who are engineers" rather "engineering leaders". This mission, combined with the environment and assessment of the competition leads to four strategic objectives to achieve sustainable advantage for TPP and TMP: increase the intellectual footprint at MIT and the surrounding community; embed them into the MIT Engineering Systems Division (ESD); raise their external visibility; and establish a research core flowing from MIT strengths and addressing the emerging critical issues in technology and policy.