Large scale manufacturing in Engineering field is the challenge India china Korea and japan are facing. This challenge has brought in fierce competion in Technical professionals to perform or perish.
Importance of the teaching and specialization in automation is the specialized subject needs to be taught in collaboration with Industry by Industry participation in education. Development of the multi tasking abilities in technical personnel is required and should be part of the Modernization program adopted in Engineering. The concept of reducing the technical man power with highly competent Technicians with multi tasking abilities is need of the hours. Especially in large scale manufacturing teaching new technology with practical exposure is essential
so you give the answer to your own question? Or did I misunderstand?
We developed a new education and teaching model called TheoPrax. If interested in that please look at our publications in reseach gate. The key point of the model ist to include industrial items of companies into the teaching plan of pupils and students. We have 20 years of experience in TheoPrax and much success in Brazil, Austria and of course all over Germany where we are from.
please find enclosed a lecture 7 years ago which gives a survey. If you want further material please ask me. You also will find informations in English at www.theo-prax.de
Answer at your question is YES. As Mr. Peter Eyerer said " Industry 4.0 is not imaginable without Automation". I agree with this. Today, but especially in future, if you like to have engineers who are capable to unerstand eloctomechanical problem and automation, you have to teach them basic from automation. They do not have to be experts in this area, but engineers must to have basic knowledge in the field of automation.