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Comparison of International Students' Competency Levels in the Fundamentals of Engineering Technology Courses

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Conference

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah

Publication Date

June 23, 2018

Start Date

June 23, 2018

End Date

July 27, 2018

Conference Session

Global and Intercultural Competency

Tagged Division

International

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--30210

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/30210

Download Count

402

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Paper Authors

biography

Mauricio Torres Northern Kentucky University

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Dr. Torres received a B.S. in Business Administration from City University of Sao Caetano do Sul, B.S. in Mechanical Industrial Engineering from Braz Cubas University, Brazil, M.S. in Engineering Management and Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Florida International University. He has over 30 years of experience in heavy machinery manufacturing industry and currently he holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering Technology Program at Northern Kentucky University. His research interests are manufacturing processes, enterprise engineering and engineering education.

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biography

Morteza Sadat-Hossieny Northern Kentucky University

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MORTEZA SADAT-HOSSIENY is currently a professor and director of engineering technology programs at Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Sadat received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Power Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University, Masters of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Murray State University and Ph.D. in Industrial Technology Education from Iowa State University. His areas of concentration are Computer Aided Design, Industrial Automation, and his research Interests are globalized engineering/technology education, engineering technology curriculum development, outcome assessments, and refining program accreditation procedures.

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Abstract

Comparison of International Students Competency Levels in the Fundamentals of Engineering Technology Courses

In this paper, we will identify challenges and suggest the necessary measures to meet the competency levels needed for fundamentals of engineering technology classes. We will examine students’ preparedness in math and sciences, as well as some basic fundamentals of engineering technology subjects at the beginning of a semester in selected classes. We will develop a test instrument to measure the student population’s knowledge levels in these classes; we will also develop strategies to meet the minimum competency levels if the data suggests that the students are not prepared in those subject matters. This study will seek answers to the question on whether international students have the same or better knowledge of basic math and sciences compared to their domestic counterparts. The hypothesis is that “the barriers in their communication and language skills, rather than their basic knowledge of sciences, math, and fundamental of engineering technology subjects are the main factor that prevents international students to demonstrate their class competencies”. Previous studies have shown that “while the affective and behavioral dimensions of intercultural communication competence are related to students' satisfaction with their communication skills”, talking and working in groups with their domestic counterparts (students) is recognized to be the most important factor in perceptions of communication competency and sense of class subject interactions.

Torres, M., & Sadat-Hossieny, M. (2018, June), Comparison of International Students' Competency Levels in the Fundamentals of Engineering Technology Courses Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--30210

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