With the rapid development of information and communication technologies, globalization has become a more and more sweeping trend for this century. Within 100 years or so, passports and visas will disappear, and people will travel and communicate freely throughout the world. Although the difference in languages, nations and customs will still exist, the barrier of countries will be minimized. As a consequence of globalization, education in 100 years will no longer be confined to students of one nation, but will be available as an equal opportunity for all the people in the world, no matter what race or age.

 

Looking back at the last 100 years of the proud history of the USC School of Engineering, we have strong reason to believe that we will become one of the leaders of the education and research institutes in the world during the next century. Established in 1905 with only a few curriculum and limited students, the USC School of Engineering has now grown into a world famous education and research center with more than 5,000 students, hundreds of them international.  As one of the most important schools of a university with the largest body of international students in the USA, the USC School of Engineering has contributed significantly to the attraction of international students. We have a versatile education system and strong research faculties and students. We will continue our effort to make the education in the next century a rich context system.  

 

In 100 years, our education will no longer be limited to small classrooms and professors giving lectures. On the contrast, it will be a distributed resource available anywhere and anytime.  Based on our current DEN education system, and boosted by the rapid development of the Internet technology, a worldwide remote educational system will be built. Students from all over the world, no matter what race, sex, and age, will be able to register online and enjoy the online education system.

 

In 100 years, our education will not only be limited to one language, English, but automatically translated into multiple languages.  Technologies developed by Associate Professor Shrikanth Narayanan in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering has enabled a doctor’s spoken English to be translated into Persian, and the patient’s Persian into English. With the development of such technologies, in the future, students from China and Africa can study the same material as American students, but in their native languages and at their own homes. 

 

In 100 years, our education will not only be lectures and slides, but an immersive 3D game-orientated environment.  W. Lewis Johnson, a research Associate Professor in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, has developed a computer game, Tactical Iraqi, to teach Arabic language and customs to American soldiers in Iraq. Many other immersive technologies, such as remote immersive media technologies, have also been developed in the Integrated Media System Center. Facilitated by these technologies, future students will have a valuable learning experience within an immersive 3D environment.

 

Looking back to the past 100 years, we are proud of what we have accomplished.  Looking forward to the next century, we see challenges and opportunities. With the great spirit of Trojans, we can proudly say that we are No.1 in the world after 100 years.