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Session 2242

Undergraduate Engineering Skill Preparedness

Peter A. Keen, Ph.D., P.E. ASEE/ Stevens Institute of Technology

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a survey done at Stevens Institute of Technology where the expectations of the employers were compared to the preparedness of its graduating engineering undergraduate students. Deficiencies in ethics, listening, written and oral communications and responsibility and management were found. Employers expectations in technical proficiency were exceeded. These results are similar to studies done at Arizona State University and other NJ colleges. Surveys such as this should be used as a tool in understanding curriculum deficiencies, required changes and new initiatives which better satisfy the needs of the employers.

I. Introduction

A core issue for engineering undergraduate education is determiningg how well the institution prepares its students for the needs of its employers. Such information is essential to guide curriculum changes and new course initiatives.

There have been a number of articles and wide discussion on the requirements that engineers need. However, there have been few actual surveys published which compare 1-4 the needs of the employers against those of graduating undergraduates. The two most recent surveys have been done at Arizona State 4 University (ASU) and in New Jersey 3. The ASU study compared the importance often generic attributes in new engineering graduates by surveying 14 companies. The NJ study, sponsored in part by the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), evaluated 14 attributes, but more broadly addressed bachelors degrees from all disciplines in NJ colleges by surveying 404 NJ companies.

This paper reports on a survey, which is similar to the SHEEO study, but addresses the needs of employers who have hired engineers graduating from Stevens Institute of Technology.

?@iia-’ 1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings } ‘.%,yTRc,:

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Keen, P. P. P. A. (1996, June), Undergraduate Engineering Skill Preparedness Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--6358