Mission & Vision
Mission
At The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, we’re engineering for humanity.
Engineering is the art of applying science to solve problems. It means drawing from expertise and fostering collaboration across multiple disciplines, from genetics to robotics to medicine. It involves tenacity, creativity, and boldness in exploring new lines of research. We leverage the resources of a leading research university within a global city to push the possibilities of this discipline to its limits.
The purpose of our efforts? We engineer to impact the common good by creating solutions that help humans thrive. Doing this well means seeing the big picture and seeking input from every available perspective to craft solutions that are both technically sound and socially responsible.
Engineering for humanity is a task too important and too large to tackle alone. We stand on the shoulders of giants who have gone before us and alongside those who labor in similar ways throughout the globe. And we are dedicated to expanding the work by training and mentoring leaders who will make engineering for humanity their call, too, fueling innovation and discovery for decades to come.
In short, we’re advancing engineering to transform lives and develop tomorrow’s leaders who will do the same.
Engineering for Humanity at Columbia Engineering
Vision
Our vision of engineering for humanity serves as a touchstone to direct our endeavors, helping us select and prioritize the most promising areas for research.
The vision also informs the way we go about our work. We value collaboration beyond disciplinary boundaries, for instance, because the challenges that face humanity are multifaceted and require input from every relevant branch of knowledge.
We are committed to creating a truly global diversity among our students and faculty for the same reason. The problems that face us all, from climate change to privacy in a digital world, call for the input of all to help us avoid blind spots and surface the best ideas.
The future to which we aspire will also require the efforts of others beyond the confines of our campus. Our expectation is that many of those who provide vital leadership in the years to come in industry, government, and in research at other institutions throughout the world, will trace the origins of their careers to their studies at Columbia Engineering, catching here a vision that will inspire countless others we will never meet.
We Need Your Help
To pursue our mission and realize our vision, we depend upon supporters who share our excitement about what is possible and are ready to invest in the future of Columbia Engineering.