Do I need to know this?: A comparison of mechatronics program offerings to industry expectations for necessary on-the-job skillsets.

Nisha Raghunath; Karl R. Haapala; Christopher A. Sanchez

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Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Disciplinary Engineering Education Research – Session 1
Tagged Division: Educational Research and Methods Division (ERM)
Page Count: 18
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43191
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/43191
Download Count: 159

Paper Authors

biography

Nisha Raghunath M.S. Oregon State University

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Nisha is a fourth-year graduate student studying the effects of digital media quality on people's perceptions and judgments of said content, and has been a part of many interdisciplinary teams to broaden her skillset and research experience. She will be pursuing a career in industry after graduation, and hopes to continue evaluating how we interact with the technological world.

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Karl R. Haapala Oregon State University

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Dr. Karl R. Haapala is an Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University, where he directs the Industrial Sustainability Laboratory and OSU Industrial Assessment Center.

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Christopher A. Sanchez Oregon State University

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Dr. Sanchez is a cognitive psychologist with explicit interests in STEM education; specifically in the areas of engineering and design. He is currently an Associate Professor of Engineering Psychology at Oregon State University where he heads the Applied Cognitive Theory, Usability and Learning (ACTUAL) Laboratory.

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Abstract

Modern educational programs in engineering are tasked with the somewhat difficult proposition of providing programs that offer well-rounded curricula that balances both basic technical knowledge in addition to practical experience for their students. For example, in very applied fields like mechatronics, a well-rounded education likely includes training in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and also computer science. However, how well do these educational programs serve students? In other words, does the curricula being offered to students match industry expectations? And in what ways? Increasing the degree of match between education and the workforce could lead to a more efficient and successful career trajectory for students, and go a long way towards developing a better trained and available workforce. To this end, the current project surveyed industry professionals about skills they expect from recent graduates in mechatronics. These professional expectations were then compared to educational offerings across the United States, to estimate the degree of match between instructional offerings and industry standards.

To determine the degree of match between educational offerings and industry expectations of a well-prepared mechatronics graduate, a two-fold investigation was conducted. In the first phase, a group of industry professionals across a range of manufacturing sectors were queried on the essential skills they might expect for individuals pursuing a certificate in mechatronics engineering. These skills spanned six overarching categories (e.g., engineering fundamentals, electrical hardware systems, etc.). In the second phase, an exhaustive search of mechatronics degree offerings currently offered across the United States was first conducted. Then, each of these degree programs was likewise evaluated for the presence of these 6 categories of skills. Educational opportunities were then compared to industry expectations in regards to these 6 categories of skills, and gaps were identified.

A comparison of the distribution of skills instructed across categories showed that educational institutions cover a significantly wider range of skills than what most industry professionals believe are important for a career working in mechatronics. For example, while most educational programs prioritize engineering fundamentals (e.g., properties of materials), industry professionals instead indicated that electrical hardware systems (e.g., digital systems/circuits) were equally, if not more, important. Similar disparities were also observed in the categories of mechanical hardware systems, systems integration, and applications. These results suggest that there does exist an opportunity to refine engineering educational programs, such that they might more effectively match industry expectations and on-the-job duties.

Results from this study suggest that while engineering students are offered a diverse skillset during their education, this often does not necessarily align with what is perceived as most useful for everyday tasks in industry. While a well-rounded education is laudable, it may be beneficial for students to experience curricula that best prepare them for what is required to succeed in the workforce. Future efforts should seek to streamline curricular programs, and more effectively balance academic offerings with required industrial skillsets.

Citation
Format

Raghunath, N., & Haapala, K. R., & Sanchez, C. A. (2023, June), Do I need to know this?: A comparison of mechatronics program offerings to industry expectations for necessary on-the-job skillsets. Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43191

TY - CPAPER
AB - Modern educational programs in engineering are tasked with the somewhat difficult proposition of providing programs that offer well-rounded curricula that balances both basic technical knowledge in addition to practical experience for their students. For example, in very applied fields like mechatronics, a well-rounded education likely includes training in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and also computer science. However, how well do these educational programs serve students? In other words, does the curricula being offered to students match industry expectations? And in what ways? Increasing the degree of match between education and the workforce could lead to a more efficient and successful career trajectory for students, and go a long way towards developing a better trained and available workforce. To this end, the current project surveyed industry professionals about skills they expect from recent graduates in mechatronics. These professional expectations were then compared to educational offerings across the United States, to estimate the degree of match between instructional offerings and industry standards.

To determine the degree of match between educational offerings and industry expectations of a well-prepared mechatronics graduate, a two-fold investigation was conducted. In the first phase, a group of industry professionals across a range of manufacturing sectors were queried on the essential skills they might expect for individuals pursuing a certificate in mechatronics engineering. These skills spanned six overarching categories (e.g., engineering fundamentals, electrical hardware systems, etc.). In the second phase, an exhaustive search of mechatronics degree offerings currently offered across the United States was first conducted. Then, each of these degree programs was likewise evaluated for the presence of these 6 categories of skills. Educational opportunities were then compared to industry expectations in regards to these 6 categories of skills, and gaps were identified.

A comparison of the distribution of skills instructed across categories showed that educational institutions cover a significantly wider range of skills than what most industry professionals believe are important for a career working in mechatronics. For example, while most educational programs prioritize engineering fundamentals (e.g., properties of materials), industry professionals instead indicated that electrical hardware systems (e.g., digital systems/circuits) were equally, if not more, important. Similar disparities were also observed in the categories of mechanical hardware systems, systems integration, and applications. These results suggest that there does exist an opportunity to refine engineering educational programs, such that they might more effectively match industry expectations and on-the-job duties.

Results from this study suggest that while engineering students are offered a diverse skillset during their education, this often does not necessarily align with what is perceived as most useful for everyday tasks in industry. While a well-rounded education is laudable, it may be beneficial for students to experience curricula that best prepare them for what is required to succeed in the workforce. Future efforts should seek to streamline curricular programs, and more effectively balance academic offerings with required industrial skillsets.
AU - Nisha Raghunath M.S.
AU - Karl R. Haapala
AU - Christopher A. Sanchez
CY - Baltimore , Maryland
DA - 2023/06/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Do I need to know this?: A comparison of mechatronics program offerings to industry expectations for necessary on-the-job skillsets.
UR - https://peer.asee.org/43191
DO - 10.18260/1-2--43191
ER -