Engineering education, in general, has been undergoingsignificant changes in recent years with the arrival ofgroundbreaking technology. Because of this technologicalrevolution, globalization of the economy, and changingperspective on energy issues, the education of petroleumengineers needs to evolve to meet the challenges of the futurepetroleum industry. The petroleum industry has become moreservice oriented and diversified than ever before. This willlead to the role of an engineer as a creator of public goods,which are not necessarily tangible, as warranted by theindustry. The objectives of this study are to identify thecritical challenges facing petroleum engineering educationtoday, to analyze the vision of petroleum engineering infuture, and to develop a plan to meet the future educationalchallenges. The tools available for petroleum engineeringeducation in the past and in the present are reviewed, andthose expected to dominate the 21st century are analyzed. Theimpact of new technological devices on the delivery, quality,scope, and recipient of petroleum education is criticallyevaluated. The evolving shift in learning model from atraditional, school based one to a non-conventional, virtualone is discussed. The areas of petroleum engineeringeducation that need improvement are highlighted. It is clearthat engineering education will be challenged as never beforeto shape the nature and quality of life in the new millennium.Engineering education must be proactive to meetthese challenges.
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