Teaching methods vs cultural aspect.

We used to say that teaching methods in countries like Japan or China rely too much on teaching by heart or teaching for readily practical application.

I don't know, if it is true (or still true), but does it really matter?

Knowing that most of what you learn in a typical Bachelor Engineering Degree is somewhat 150 years old (Calculus, Differential Equations, Strength of Material, Beam Theory, Vibration, Thermodynamics, etc.).

Knowing that everybody now used software to do the chore of the calculations and knowing that everybody have access to the same softwares (Patran, Nastran, CATIA, etc.).

Do you really think that the west (USA, Europe, etc.) will still have the upper edge of innovations when compare to India or China.

India and China will soon produce your next cars, airplanes & software, all that with an "inferior education system".

Those countries buy all the patents they can put their hands on, their people are smart too (India teachers, some of which, studied in western Universities, now return to their former country).

Also knowing that major joint venture involve western & Asiatic countries, does the school system will matter as much as before?