Identifying the Challenges Aerospace Engineers Face During the  Transition from University to Industry

MacKenzie Reber; Yun Dong; Subhanwit Roy; Benjamin Ahn

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Conference: 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Start Date: June 26, 2022
End Date: June 29, 2022
Conference Session: Aerospace Division Technical Session: Student Success
Page Count: 22
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--41824
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/41824
Download Count: 707

Paper Authors

biography

MacKenzie Reber Grove City College

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I am a recent graduate from Grove City College (May 2022). I graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Chemical Engineering. I will be working as an applications engineer for ThermalTech in Pittsburgh, PA in August. My current research interests revolve around engineering education and employee proactive actions.

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Yun Dong Iowa State University of Science and Technology

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Yun is a Ph.D. in Human Computer Interaction. She graduated from Iowa State University. Her research interests include newly-hired engineers' practices and experience in the socialization process and engineering education.

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Subhanwit Roy Iowa State University of Science and Technology

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Benjamin Ahn Iowa State University of Science and Technology

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Benjamin Ahn is an associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University. His research interests include (1) engineering workforce development, (2) student mentoring and diversity, and (3) teaching and learning mechanisms. Benjamin received a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University, an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, and a B.E. in Aerospace Engineering with first class honors from the University of New South Wales (Australia). Prior to joining Iowa State University, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Abstract

Important direct outcomes of new engineer socialization include understanding one’s roles and responsibilities, learning the knowledge and skills required to perform one’s job, understanding one’s company culture, and gaining acceptance into one’s workgroup. Studies have shown that achieving these outcomes positively impacts job retention, satisfaction, and performance. However, while the proactive behaviors new engineers implement to achieve these outcomes have been a primary focus of recent literature, there is a lack of understanding regarding the challenges new engineers face while attaining these outcomes. It is crucial to understand the challenges new engineers face to mitigate these obstacles and better prepare engineering students to enter the workforce. This research aims to (a) identify the specific challenges newly hired engineers face and the actions they take to overcome these challenges during the socialization period, and (b) identify aspects of undergraduate education that new engineers believe can be improved. Researchers interviewed 26 participants from four of the largest aerospace and defense organizations in the United States, and their responses were analyzed using an open coding method. Coders identified 26 unique challenges and 13 distinct solutions during this study. Challenges included a lack of engineering knowledge, unclear role boundaries, lack of organizational support, and navigating an unfamiliar environment. Of those 26 challenges, 15 significant challenges faced by newly-hired engineers are presented in this paper. Several solutions involved interacting with coworkers, shadowing and observing coworkers, and utilizing available resources. Knowing what challenges newly-hired engineers will face and what solutions they may use is helpful for undergraduates entering the workforce. When asked how undergraduate engineering education could be improved, the newly-hired engineers desired a more significant focus on practical training, more exposure to industry-like environments, and a greater emphasis on soft skills such as technical writing. This study aims to minimize the gap between academia’s and industry’s expectations for new engineers’ required knowledge and skills, help prepare engineering students for the potential challenges they will face during the socialization period, and highlight potential areas of improvement within engineering organizations and undergraduate engineering education.

Citation
Format

Reber, M., & Dong, Y., & Roy, S., & Ahn, B. (2022, August), Identifying the Challenges Aerospace Engineers Face During the Transition from University to Industry Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41824

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Important direct outcomes of new engineer socialization include understanding one’s roles and responsibilities, learning the knowledge and skills required to perform one’s job, understanding one’s company culture, and gaining acceptance into one’s workgroup. Studies have shown that achieving these outcomes positively impacts job retention, satisfaction, and performance. However, while the proactive behaviors new engineers implement to achieve these outcomes have been a primary focus of recent literature, there is a lack of understanding regarding the challenges new engineers face while attaining these outcomes. It is crucial to understand the challenges new engineers face to mitigate these obstacles and better prepare engineering students to enter the workforce. This research aims to (a) identify the specific challenges newly hired engineers face and the actions they take to overcome these challenges during the socialization period, and (b) identify aspects of undergraduate education that new engineers believe can be improved. Researchers interviewed 26 participants from four of the largest aerospace and defense organizations in the United States, and their responses were analyzed using an open coding method. Coders identified 26 unique challenges and 13 distinct solutions during this study. Challenges included a lack of engineering knowledge, unclear role boundaries, lack of organizational support, and navigating an unfamiliar environment. Of those 26 challenges, 15 significant challenges faced by newly-hired engineers are presented in this paper. Several solutions involved interacting with coworkers, shadowing and observing coworkers, and utilizing available resources. Knowing what challenges newly-hired engineers will face and what solutions they may use is helpful for undergraduates entering the workforce. When asked how undergraduate engineering education could be improved, the newly-hired engineers desired a more significant focus on practical training, more exposure to industry-like environments, and a greater emphasis on soft skills such as technical writing. This study aims to minimize the gap between academia’s and industry’s expectations for new engineers’ required knowledge and skills, help prepare engineering students for the potential challenges they will face during the socialization period, and highlight potential areas of improvement within engineering organizations and undergraduate engineering education.
AU  - MacKenzie Reber
AU  - Yun Dong
AU  - Subhanwit Roy
AU  - Benjamin Ahn
CY  - Minneapolis, MN
DA  - 2022/08/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Identifying the Challenges Aerospace Engineers Face During the  Transition from University to Industry
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/41824
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--41824
ER  -