Analysis of Computer Skills and Happiness Levels of Electrical Engineering Students during Pandemic

Abstract

Since March 2019, UAE university has responded to challenges raised by the pandemic by transforming normal instruction platforms and assessments to online. The pandemic itself and online learning have affected students’ skill level, job outlook and perception of the future. Engineering education, in particular, involves laboratory experience, field internships, industrial visits in addition to classroom learning. This study undertakes to analyze electrical engineering students’ concerns raised by challenges due to pandemics. The study develops a hypothesis and validates it using data collected from electrical engineering students (of years 2, 3 and 4) registered in the spring term of computer courses of electrical engineering. The data thus, collected is analyzed and suggests that electrical engineering students’ happiness levels are low, the job outlook is weak, and skill development concerns are high due to virtual laboratory experience and absence of physical industrial visits/internships. Some recommendations are developed and presented.