Collaborative Efforts in Developing the PhD in Engineering Education Program in Universiti Teknologi

Khairiyah Mohd Yusof

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Conference: 2012 ASEE International Forum
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Publication Date: June 9, 2012
Start Date: June 9, 2012
End Date: June 10, 2012
Conference Session: Track 2 - Session 2 - Curriculum and Laboratory Development
Tagged Topic: Track 2 - Curriculum and Laboratory Development
Page Count: 2
Page Numbers: 17.8.1 - 17.8.2
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--17030
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/17030
Download Count: 414

Paper Authors

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Khairiyah Mohd Yusof Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

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Dr. Khairiyah Mohd-Yusof is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She is the Director of the UTM Regional Centre for Engineering Education (RCEE), which promotes meaningful research and scholarly practice in engineering education, and manages the PhD in Engineering Education program. Since 2011, she is the Secretary of the Society for Engineering Education Malaysia (SEEM). Prior to becoming the Director of RCEE, Dr. Khairiyah was the Deputy Director at the Centre for Teaching & Learning (2008 – 2011), and the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department (2006-2008). Her engineering education research focuses on innovative teaching and learning practices, especially Cooperative Learning (CL) and Problem-based Learning (PBL), first year experience, and sustainable development in engineering education. A practitioner of Cooperative Problem-based Learning (CPBL), she regularly conducts training for academic staff from institutions of higher learning, especially in student-centered teaching and learning methods.

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Abstract

Collaborative Efforts in Developing the PhD in Engineering Education Program in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Khairiyah Mohd Yusof Director, Regional Centre for Engineering Education Universiti Teknologi MalaysiaAbstractThe PhD in Engineering Education program in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was first offered inlate 2008. Since the program is multidisciplinary in nature, with very few reference points to benchmarkagainst as well as scarce expertise in the area, collaboration with institutions from other parts of theworld with a similar program was established.When the program was first designed, a link with the School of Engineering Education, PurdueUniversity was formed. Until now, academic staff from Purdue University were regularly invited toprovide feedback on the curricula structure and the research conducted by the first cohort of students,as well as conduct short courses on different topics on rigorous research in engineering education.As word about the PhD program spread, links with other institutions offering similar programs are alsoformed. In 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation Agreement between UTM andAalborg University, Denmark, was signed to offer a joint PhD in Engineering Education program. Thereare also efforts to start off collaboration to have joint supervision and research in engineering educationwith other universities, such as Utah State University and the University of Southern Queensland.Since the pool of experts conducting rigorous research in engineering education is rather limited, someof them were invited to provide research consultation and short courses to students. For example, Dr.Elliot Douglas from the University of Florida were invited to talk about qualitative research methods.Although there are experts in qualitative methods in UTM from the Faculty of Education who alsoassisted students in the program, having someone who has conducted research and publishedspecifically in engineering education motivates students to conduct their research to a similar high levelof rigor.When the time came for students from the first cohort to submit their theses and go through the oraldefense, external examiners were purposely appointed from universities with similar programs, mainlyfrom Purdue University and Aalborg University. This does not only ensure that students are able to havean expert in engineering education as their examiner, but also provide assurance that the quality of thegraduates are at par with other programs at the international level.Through collaborative efforts with partner universities, the PhD in Engineering Education in UTMprogram managed to generate capacity in engineering education research not only among the PhDstudents/graduates, but also among academic staff who supervise them. With this capability, furthercollaborative efforts can be made, especially in helping the community of practice grow in Asia.

Citation
Format

Yusof, K. M. (2012, June), Collaborative Efforts in Developing the PhD in Engineering Education Program in Universiti Teknologi Paper presented at 2012 ASEE International Forum, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--17030

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Collaborative Efforts in Developing the PhD in Engineering Education Program in Universiti Teknologi                                              Malaysia                                         Khairiyah Mohd Yusof                          Director, Regional Centre for Engineering Education                                     Universiti Teknologi MalaysiaAbstractThe PhD in Engineering Education program in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was first offered inlate 2008. Since the program is multidisciplinary in nature, with very few reference points to benchmarkagainst as well as scarce expertise in the area, collaboration with institutions from other parts of theworld with a similar program was established.When the program was first designed, a link with the School of Engineering Education, PurdueUniversity was formed. Until now, academic staff from Purdue University were regularly invited toprovide feedback on the curricula structure and the research conducted by the first cohort of students,as well as conduct short courses on different topics on rigorous research in engineering education.As word about the PhD program spread, links with other institutions offering similar programs are alsoformed. In 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation Agreement between UTM andAalborg University, Denmark, was signed to offer a joint PhD in Engineering Education program. Thereare also efforts to start off collaboration to have joint supervision and research in engineering educationwith other universities, such as Utah State University and the University of Southern Queensland.Since the pool of experts conducting rigorous research in engineering education is rather limited, someof them were invited to provide research consultation and short courses to students. For example, Dr.Elliot Douglas from the University of Florida were invited to talk about qualitative research methods.Although there are experts in qualitative methods in UTM from the Faculty of Education who alsoassisted students in the program, having someone who has conducted research and publishedspecifically in engineering education motivates students to conduct their research to a similar high levelof rigor.When the time came for students from the first cohort to submit their theses and go through the oraldefense, external examiners were purposely appointed from universities with similar programs, mainlyfrom Purdue University and Aalborg University. This does not only ensure that students are able to havean expert in engineering education as their examiner, but also provide assurance that the quality of thegraduates are at par with other programs at the international level.Through collaborative efforts with partner universities, the PhD in Engineering Education in UTMprogram managed to generate capacity in engineering education research not only among the PhDstudents/graduates, but also among academic staff who supervise them. With this capability, furthercollaborative efforts can be made, especially in helping the community of practice grow in Asia.
AU  - Khairiyah Mohd Yusof
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2012/06/09
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Collaborative Efforts in Developing the PhD in Engineering Education Program in Universiti Teknologi 
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/17030
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--17030
ER  -