Problems of automatic control education in developing countries

The problem of automatic control education in developing countries is an integral part of related difficulties in the education of engineering and applied sciences in such regions. Some of the basic problems are lack of technical manpower, shortage of related industries, insufficient technical programs, and deficiency in competent and qualified faculty members. Other problems, which depend on the particular region, country or circumstance are historical traditions, economic conditions, population size, financial budgets, educational tools, media of instructions, curriculum structures and non-uniformity of the educational programs. Most of these problems are closely related and cannot be separately discussed nor can a unique solution for them be proposed. For example, the shortage of ‘technical manpower’ is commonly due to the lack of development of ‘technical training programs’, which are, in turn, a mere reflection of the very nature of their underdeveloped or developing ‘economies’ and ‘industries’.In this paper, an attempt is made to bring up some of the problems and difficulties of the education of automatic control in developing countries. The problems of control education are divided into primary and secondary classes. After the exposition of the problems and their nature in each category, a proposal is made to help as a guideline for better understanding of the difficulties and to provide likely clues for their solution.